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Intensive Care UnitPESCANCT06584604

Calibration of Esophageal Balloon Catheter in Spontaneous and Mandatory Mechanical Ventilation

An observational study of Intensive Care Unit and Mechanical Ventilation, run by Leiden University Medical Center at 1 site in Netherlands.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Calibration of the esophageal balloon catheter (Pes catheter) is important for the right measurement of the esophageal pressure (Pes) and subsequent interpretation of the derived transpulmonary pressures during mechanical ventilation. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
How many people
40 participants
Where
1 siteNetherlands
Study dates
29 Dec 2024to Jan 2027
How long will I take part?
1 Day
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: ICU patients who are on mechanical ventilation with a esophageal balloon catheter in situ according to the current LUMC protocol. Expected mechanical ventilation time \> 24 hrs. RASS between -3 and -5;

Who may be able to join

  • 18 years or older.
  • Mechanically ventilated in spontaneous mode.
  • Sedated (Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) between -3 and -5).
  • Pes catheter in situ according to the protocol used in the LUMC (Insertion of a Pes catheter is mandatory if it is suspected that te patient will be ventilated for more than 24 hrs.).

Who cannot join

  • Medical condition that excludes the placement of a Pes catheter.
  • Allergic reaction against rocuronium in the past.
  • Pregnant.
  • RASS \> -3

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Willem Snoep, BSc contact

+31 (0)71-5262164

j.w.m.snoep@lumc.nl

Abraham Schoe, MD, PhD contact

a.schoe@lumc.nl

Netherlands1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Leiden University Medical Center

    Leiden, South Holland, 2333ZA

    Willem Snoep, BSc, +31715262164, j.w.m.snoep@lumc.nl

    Recruiting

Other trials in Netherlands

About this study

Official title: Calibration of Esophageal Balloon Catheter in Spontaneous and Mandatory Mechanical Ventilation (PESCA)

Calibration of the esophageal balloon catheter (Pes catheter) is important for the right measurement of the esophageal pressure (Pes) and subsequent interpretation of the derived transpulmonary pressures during mechanical ventilation. Both relative changes and absolute values of Pes can be affected by inappropriate filling of the esophageal balloon and by the elastance of the esophagus wall. Therefore one should calibrate the balloon to determine the best filling pressure. Calibration of the Pes catheter has only been validated in mandatory ventilation but not in support modes in which the patient triggers the ventilator and is supported by the mechanical ventilator. Because the forces in the thoracic cage behave differently in comparison with a controlled mode, it is to be expected that the calibration process in a support mode yields different filling volumes in comparison with the calibration process in a controlled mode. This would lead to a more reliable filling volume in support mechanical ventilation and a more reliable derivation of transpulmonary pressure and therefore to a better treatment of patients.

Read the detailed description

In mechanical ventilation the esophageal pressure (Pes) is used to calculate the transpulmonary pressure (PL). The transpulmonary pressure is used to set the positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) and the inspiratory pressure. In spontaneous mechanical ventilation the transpulmonary pressure swing (which is the difference between the maximum and minimum transpulmonary pressure) is used as a measure of patient effort. Too much patient effort is perhaps detrimental in patients with early, severe ARDS, leading to additional lung damage and possibly a prolonged ICU stay.

The Pes is measured using a separate or integrated (feeding tube and Pes catheter) esophageal balloon catheter. The catheter is placed in the right position and has to be inflated to produce a readable pressure signal. The Pes balloon needs calibration before measurement to be sure that the readings are trustworthy. When calibrating one should take the compliance of the esophagus into account, together with the calibration curve, and with that, the filling volume of the patient changes from patient to patient. A calibration study of the Pes catheter has only been performed in passive mechanically ventilated patients, i.e. in patients without any breathing efforts.

In spontaneous breathing patients who still needs support from the ventilator, the forces within the thorax differ considerably in comparison with passive patients. When initiating a breath the diaphragm of the patient will move downwards and the Pes will become negative. In passive patient the ventilator initiates the breath and the diaphragm will be pushed downwards but the Pes will become more positive. It is probable that the calibration methods used in passive patients is not feasible in patients who exhibit a breathing effort. It is therefore necessary to study the calibration of the esophageal balloon catheter in patients that breath spontaneously with the support of a mechanical ventilator.

The hypothesis is that the calibration method, and therefore the filling pressure of the balloon is different from the values when the patient would be ventilated in a passive mode. Wrong calibration leads to wrong values, which could possibly lead to wrong interpretation of the obtained values with possible harm for the patient.

Being tested
There is no intervention
Keywords
Esophageal Pressure, Esophageal Balloon Catheter, Transpulmonary Pressure, Mandatory Ventilation, Support Ventilation
Medical subject headings
Critical Illness

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • There is no interventionOther

    There is no intervention

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Esophageal pressures (in cmH2O) measured by the balloon catheter at different filling volumes (in ml)

    To obtain a calibration method for the oesophageal balloon catheter in patients ventilated with a support mode and breathing spontaneously. Two, often used balloon catheters will be tested.

    Measured: 45 minutes

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. The difference of optimal filling volume in spontaneously breathing and in passive ventilation (in cmH2O)

    After measurements of the esophageal balloon were done during spontaneously breathing patients, measurements were done during mandatory ventilation while patient is passive. The measurements are the values and the optimal filling volume of the esophageal balloon in spontaneously breathing and in a passive mode.

    Measured: 45 minutes

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted5 Sep 2024
  2. Study start29 Dec 2024
  3. Primary completionOct 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completionJan 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
40 participants (estimated)
Target duration
1 Day
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06584604
Sponsor's protocol ID
NL83335.058.24
Acronym
PESCA
Status last verified
Apr 2025
First submitted
2 Sep 2024
Last updated
22 Apr 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided: Data will be shared upon request with researchers.

Publications

  • Mojoli F, Iotti GA, Torriglia F, Pozzi M, Volta CA, Bianzina S, Braschi A, Brochard L. In vivo calibration of esophageal pressure in the mechanically ventilated patient makes measurements reliable. Crit Care. 2016 Apr 11;20:98. doi: 10.1186/s13054-016-1278-5.

    PubMed 27063290
  • Talmor D, Sarge T, Malhotra A, O'Donnell CR, Ritz R, Lisbon A, Novack V, Loring SH. Mechanical ventilation guided by esophageal pressure in acute lung injury. N Engl J Med. 2008 Nov 13;359(20):2095-104. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0708638. Epub 2008 Nov 11.

    PubMed 19001507
  • Beitler JR, Sarge T, Banner-Goodspeed VM, Gong MN, Cook D, Novack V, Loring SH, Talmor D; EPVent-2 Study Group. Effect of Titrating Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) With an Esophageal Pressure-Guided Strategy vs an Empirical High PEEP-Fio2 Strategy on Death and Days Free From Mechanical Ventilation Among Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2019 Mar 5;321(9):846-857. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.0555.

    PubMed 30776290
  • Yoshida T, Fujino Y, Amato MB, Kavanagh BP. Fifty Years of Research in ARDS. Spontaneous Breathing during Mechanical Ventilation. Risks, Mechanisms, and Management. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2017 Apr 15;195(8):985-992. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201604-0748CP.

    PubMed 27786562
  • Yoshida T, Grieco DL, Brochard L, Fujino Y. Patient self-inflicted lung injury and positive end-expiratory pressure for safe spontaneous breathing. Curr Opin Crit Care. 2020 Feb;26(1):59-65. doi: 10.1097/MCC.0000000000000691.

    PubMed 31815775

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Intensive Care Unit and Mechanical Ventilation, run by Leiden University Medical Center at 1 site in Netherlands.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Apr 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Netherlands. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Willem Snoep, BSc (+31 (0)71-5262164, j.w.m.snoep@lumc.nl), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Esophageal pressures (in cmH2O) measured by the balloon catheter at different filling volumes (in ml) (time frame: 45 minutes). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06584604, which also lists 5 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Apr 2025.

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