Evaluation of Perfusion and Ventilation Distribution in Children: a Pilot Study.

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a recent monitoring technique that provides information on regional ventilation distribution. Following the injection of a hypertonic saline bolus, EIT can also assess regional pulmonary perfusion distribution, allowing evaluation of the ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) ratio. In adults, protocols for assessing perfusion distribution require the injection of 10 mL of a 7.5% or 10% NaCl solution or sodium bicarbonate over a few seconds. Studies have reported good hemodynamic tolerance, adequate image quality, and no significant changes in serum sodium levels. However, this volume and sodium load are not appropriate for small children. To date, no pediatric protocol exists for assessing pulmonary perfusion distribution and the ventilation/perfusion ratio using EIT. It is therefore proposed to conduct a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of assessing pulmonary perfusion by EIT using a weight-adjusted bolus of hypertonic saline (NaCl or sodium bicarbonate).

NCT Number	NCT07532811
Lead Sponsor	Hospices Civils de Lyon
Conditions	Acute Respiratory Failure
Enrollment	20 participants
Start Date	2026-05-13
Primary Completion	2028-05-13 (estimated)
Study Completion	2028-08-13 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-05-19