NCT06535074

Lung Function Monitoring During Hypoxemia Episodes

Differentiating Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Hypoxemia Episodes by Continuous Lung Function Monitoring in Preterm Infants

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 35 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: —
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Premature infants commonly have desaturation episodes due to different reasons such as cessation of breathing or loss of lung volume. The purpose of this study is to differentiate the mechanisms of desaturation episodes with continuous lung volume monitoring. As we better understand the mechanisms underlying the desaturation episodes, newer strategies directed at underlying pathophysiology can potentially by evaluated for mitigation of these episodes.

Detailed description

This is an observational study evaluating changes in lung volume during hypoxemia episodes (HEs or desaturation episodes) in spontaneously breathing very preterm infants. We postulate that HEs can be differentiated into distinct subtypes based on alterations in lung volume. Additionally, the severity and duration of HEs correlates with the degree of changes in lung volumes. Therefore, we are performing an observational study in very preterm infants with spontaneous HEs and classifying these episodes into different subtypes of Apnea, forced exhalation, mixed, and unclassified subtypes according to changes in lung volume. Lung volume will be measured non-invasively using electrical impedance tomography (EIT) device (Sentec Inc, RI, USA). In brief, the device consists of a soft belt with 32 embedded electrodes which is placed around the chest of the infant and applies a weak alternating current and measures returning voltage. The measured returning voltage is dependent on the electrical conductivity of the underlying tissue. The reconstruction algorithm creates an image of regional impedance distribution in real time. These data are then used to compute lung volume parameters at different phases of respiratory cycle providing end expiratory lung impedance reflective of EELV, tidal impedance reflective of tidal volume, and regional distribution of ventilation. The changes in lung volume parameters will be used to differentiate HEs into different subtypes and correlated with degree and severity of HEs. In addition, we will also measure cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (CrSO2) to monitor changes in tissue oxygenation with hypoxemia episodes and changes in lung volume.

Conditions

• Hypoxemia of Newborn

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Detecting changes in lung volume with hypoxemia episodes	Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) will be used to assess changes in lung aeration prior and during hypoxemia episodes to classify them into four different subtypes. FE subtype: Defined as HEs preceded by reduction in EELI below the baseline. Apnea subtype: Defined as HEs not meeting the criteria for FE subtype and preceded by cessation of breathing. Mixed subtype: Defined as HEs meeting the criteria for both FE and apnea subtypes. Unclassified: Defined as HEs not categorized into any of the above parameters.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-04-04
• Primary completion: 2026-08-04
• Completion: 2026-08-04
• First posted: 2024-08-02
• Last updated: 2024-08-02

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States