VENtilation Modalities During Transport of PostoperatIve CRITically Ill Patients to the ICU
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Respiration, Artificial, Positive-Pressure Respiration, Postoperative Complications (Cardiopulmonary), Postoperative Complications. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
VENtilation Modalities During Transport of PostoperatIve CRITically Ill Patients to the ICU - A Multicenter Observational Study
Overview
Patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery may require postoperative mechanical ventilation and transfer from the operating room to the intensive care unit (ICU). This intra-hospital transport phase is critical, as patients may experience changes in respiratory and hemodynamic status, including alterations in oxygenation, ventilation, blood pressure, and heart rate. During transport, ventilatory support may be provided using different strategies, including manual ventilation with a bag-valve device or mechanical ventilation with a portable ventilator. Although both approaches are commonly used in clinical practice, there is limited evidence comparing their effects on respiratory function, gas exchange, and overall physiological stability during and after transport. This multicenter, prospective observational study aims to describe current clinical practices in ventilatory support during intra-hospital transport in adult patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery who require ICU admission. The study will also evaluate changes in vital signs, arterial blood gas parameters, and respiratory mechanics, as well as the occurrence of adverse events during transport and postoperative pulmonary complications within the first five days after surgery. No additional interventions or procedures beyond standard clinical care will be performed. All data will be collected as part of routine clinical practice. The results of this study are expected to improve the understanding of ventilation management during transport and to identify safer and more effective strategies for critically ill postoperative patients.
Detailed description
Intra-hospital transport from the operating room to the intensive care unit (ICU) represents a vulnerable phase for critically ill postoperative patients, particularly for those who remain intubated and require ongoing invasive mechanical ventilation. During this period, patients may develop respiratory and hemodynamic instability, including hypoxemia, ventilation impairment, and adverse cardiovascular events.
In current clinical practice, ventilatory support during transport may be provided either manually, using a bag-valve device, or mechanically, using portable ventilators. Manual ventilation is widely used but may result in variability in tidal volume, airway pressures, respiratory rate, and minute ventilation. In contrast, mechanical ventilation may allow more controlled and protective respiratory support during transport. However, there is limited evidence describing the real-world use of these strategies and their associated physiological effects in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery.
The VENTICIRT study is a multicenter, prospective observational study designed to describe ventilation practices during intra-hospital transport from the operating room to the ICU in adult patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery under general anesthesia who require postoperative ICU admission for continuation or weaning of invasive mechanical ventilation.
Data will be collected as part of routine clinical care without any modification of standard practice. The study will record patient demographics, surgical and anesthetic characteristics, ventilatory support modality during transport (manual versus mechanical), transport duration, and ventilator settings when applicable. Physiological variables, including vital signs, arterial blood gas values, and respiratory mechanics, will be assessed before and after transport according to routine clinical timing.
Adverse events occurring during transport and postoperative pulmonary complications within five days after surgery will also be documented.
By providing a comprehensive description of current ventilation strategies, their physiological impact, and associated clinical outcomes, this study aims to improve understanding of intra-hospital transport management and to generate evidence that may support safer and more effective care of critically ill postoperative patients.
Primary outcome measures
- Ventilation strategies applied during transport [Time frame: Periprocedural period]
Secondary outcome measures (12)
- assess changes in vital signs and blood gas analysis in the peri-transport period [Time frame: 30 minutes before- 30 minutes after]
- assess changes in vital signs and blood gas analysis in the peri-transport period [Time frame: 30 minutes before- 30 minutes after]
- assess changes in vital signs and blood gas analysis in the peri-transport period [Time frame: 30 minutes before- 30 minutes after]
- assess changes in vital signs and blood gas analysis in the peri-transport period [Time frame: 30 minutes before- 30 minutes after]
- assess changes in vital signs and blood gas analysis in the peri-transport period [Time frame: 30 minutes before - 30 minutes after]
- assess changes in vital signs and blood gas analysis in the peri-transport period [Time frame: 30 minutes before - 30 minutes after]
- assess changes in vital signs and blood gas analysis in the peri-transport period [Time frame: 30 minutes before - 30 minutes after]
- assess changes in vital signs and blood gas analysis in the peri-transport period [Time frame: 30 minutes before - 30 minutes after]
- assess changes in respiratory mechanics parameters before and after transport [Time frame: 30 minutes before transport - 30 minutes after transport]
- assess changes in respiratory mechanics parameters before and after transport [Time frame: 30 minutes before transport - 30 minutes after transport]
- assess modification of mechanical ventilation setup [Time frame: 30 minutes before transport - 30 minutes after transport (whole transport period)]
- incidence of adverse events [Time frame: 30 minutes before transport - 30 minutes after transport (whole transport period)]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Intubated patients undergoing general anesthesia for non-cardiac surgery
- Requirement for postoperative IMV
- Age ≥18 years
- Obtained informed consent Exclusion criteria
- Patients undergoing cardiac surgery
- Patients receiving preoperative mechanical ventilation prior to surgery.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Publications
- Morita Y. et al. Comparison of Manual and Mechanical Ventilation During Intensive Care Unit Transport Following Cardiac Surgery: Impact on Oxygenation, Ventilation, and Hemodynamic Stability. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2025 Mar;39(3):644-652.LAS VEGAS investigators, Epidemiology, practice of ventilation and outcome for patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications: LAS VEGAS
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07646249 · SIAARTI.2025.05 - VENTICRIT · SIAARTI.2025.05 - VENTICRIT