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Comparison of two methods to clear the airways of critically ill children and adults with COVID-19 infection: a structured summary of a study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objectives

As there is no treatment for COVID-19 with a proven mortality benefit at this moment in the pandemic, supportive management including mechanical ventilation is the core management in an intensive care unit (ICU). It is a challenge to provide consistent care in this situation, highly demanding and leading to potential staff shortages in ICU. We need to reduce unnecessary exposure of healthcare workers to the virus. This study aims to examine the impact of care using a non-invasive oscillating device (NIOD) for chest physiotherapy in the care of mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19. In particular, we aim to explore if a NIOD performed by non-specialized personnel is not inferior to the standard chest physiotherapy (CPT) undertaken by physiotherapists caring for patients with COVID-19.

Trial design

A pilot multicenter prospective crossover noninferiority randomized controlled trial.

Participants

All mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 admitted to one of the two ICUs, and CPT ordered by the responsible physician. The participants will be recruited from two intensive care units in Canadian Academic Hospitals (one pediatric and one adult ICU).

Intervention and comparator

We will implement NIOD and CPT alternatingly for 3 h apart over 3 h. We will apply a pragmatic design, so that other procedures including hypertonic saline nebulization, intermittent positive pressure ventilation, suctioning (e.g., oral or nasal), or changing the ventilator settings or modality (i.e., increasing positive end-expiratory pressure or changing the nasal mask to total face continuous positive airway pressure) can be provided at the direction of bedside intensivists in charge.

Main outcomes

The primary outcome measurement is the oxygenation level before and after the procedure (SpO2/FiO2 ratio). For cases with invasive ventilation (i.e., the use of an endotracheal tube to deliver positive pressure) and non-invasive ventilation, we will also document expiratory tidal volume, vital signs, and any related complications such as vomiting, hypoxemia, or unexpected extubation. We will collect the data before, 10 min after, and 30 min after the procedure.

Randomization

The order of the procedures (i.e., NIOD or CPT) will be randomly allocated using manual generated random numbers for each case. Randomization will be carried out by the independent research assistant in the study coordinating center by using opaque sealed envelopes, assigning an equal number of cases to each intervention arm. Stratification will be applied for age (> 18 years or ≤ 18 years of age) and the study sites.

Blinding (masking)

No blinding will be performed.

Numbers to be randomized (sample size)

We estimate the necessary sample size as 25 for each arm (total 50 cases), with a power of 0.90 and an alpha of 0.05, with a non-inferiority design.

Trial status

The protocol version number 1 was approved on 27 March 2020. Currently, recruitment has not yet started, with the start scheduled by the mid-June 2020 and the end anticipated by December 2020.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04361435. Registered on 28 April 2020

Full protocol

The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional File 1). In the interest in expediting dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol.

Peer Review reports

Availability of data and materials

Data will be available from the coordinating investigator of this study on reasonable request: Philippe Jouvet, University of Montreal, CHU Sainte-Justine, Department of Pediatrics 3175 Chemin de Côte Sainte Catherine, Montréal, H3T 1C5, QB, Canada

Tel: +1-(514)345-4927, Email: philippe.jouvet@umontreal.ca

Acknowledgements

Not applicable.

Funding

This study is funded by Ministère de l’Economie et Innovation, and the NIOD device will be rented by the company (Dymedso. Inc. Montreal Canada). The funding does not and will not have an influence on the design of the study, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript besides financial support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

AK, JL, MPC, TCL, KK, and PJ contributed to the conception of the study; AK, JL, GB, and PJ contributed to the preparation of the study protocol; AK, PJ, GB, and SE contributed to the study organization and obtaining approval of leading ethics committee and responsible competent authority; SE is the coordinating investigator of this study; AK drafted the manuscript; PJ revised the manuscript for important intellectual content. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Philippe Jouvet.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The protocol has been approved by the Health Research Ethics Board of Sainte-Justine Hospital, Montreal, Canada. Written informed consent will be obtained from the patient or legal authorized representative.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

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Supplementary information

Additional file 1.

Full Study Protocol.

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Kawaguchi, A., Bernier, G., Lacroix, J. et al. Comparison of two methods to clear the airways of critically ill children and adults with COVID-19 infection: a structured summary of a study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial. Trials 21, 610 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-020-04533-6

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