Electrical impedance tomography-guided positive end-expiratory pressure titration in ARDS: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Nickjaree Songsangvorn, Yonghao Xu, Cong Lü, Ori D. Rotstein, Laurent Brochard, Arthur S. Slutsky, Karen E. A. Burns, Haibo Zhang
Abstract
Assessing efficacy of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) in optimizing positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients to enhance respiratory system mechanics and prevent ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI), compared to traditional methods. We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis, spanning literature from January 2012 to May 2023, sourced from Scopus, PubMed, MEDLINE (Ovid), Cochrane, and LILACS, evaluated EIT-guided PEEP strategies in ARDS versus conventional methods. Thirteen studies (3 randomized, 10 non-randomized) involving 623 ARDS patients were analyzed using random-effects models for primary outcomes (respiratory mechanics and mechanical power) and secondary outcomes (PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio, mortality, stays in intensive care unit (ICU), ventilator-free days). EIT-guided PEEP significantly improved lung compliance ( n = 941 cases, mean difference (MD) = 4.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) [2.94, 5.71]), reduced mechanical power ( n = 148, MD = − 1.99, 95% CI [− 3.51, − 0.47]), and lowered driving pressure ( n = 903, MD = − 1.20, 95% CI [− 2.33, − 0.07]) compared to traditional methods. Sensitivity analysis showed consistent positive effect of EIT-guided PEEP on lung compliance in randomized clinical trials vs. non-randomized studies pooled (MD) = 2.43 (95% CI − 0.39 to 5.26), indicating a trend towards improvement. A reduction in mortality rate (259 patients, relative risk (RR) = 0.64, 95% CI [0.45, 0.91]) was associated with modest improvements in compliance and driving pressure in three studies. EIT facilitates real-time, individualized PEEP adjustments, improving respiratory system mechanics. Integration of EIT as a guiding tool in mechanical ventilation holds potential benefits in preventing ventilator-induced lung injury. Larger-scale studies are essential to validate and optimize EIT’s clinical utility in ARDS management.