Efficacy of non-invasive ventilatory support in the physiotherapy treatment after pulmonary lobectomy

ISRCTN ISRCTN13454737
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13454737
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
27/01/2016
Registration date
08/04/2016
Last edited
08/04/2016
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Respiratory
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Lung disease is a rising problem worldwide. Generally, lung disease can be broadly classified as cancerous or non-cancerous. Regardless of the type of disease, lung conditions generally experience problems with breathing and chest pain, as the diseased lung is not able to function properly. The human lungs are divided into sections called lobes. The right lung has three lobes and the left long has two lobes. A pulmonary lobectomy is an operation where one of the lobes of the lungs is removed (a bi-lobectomy is where two lobes are removed). This is an important procedure when only part of the lung is affected, as once the diseased lobe (or lobes) is removed the remaining lung tissue can work normally. The most common complications of a lobectomy are atelectasis (where part of the lung collapses) and pneumonia (a condition which involves swelling (inflammation) of the lung tissue). In order to try and prevent this, patients see a physiotherapist to learn deep-breathing and controlled coughing exercises in order to help the lungs to re-inflate after surgery and heal faster. cPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) and NIMV (non-invasive mechanical ventilation) are methods of non-invasive ventilatory (breathing) support which deliver air through a face mask in order to keep the airways open. Currently, these techniques are not really used in rehabilitation after a pulmonary lobectomy, although they could play a key role in the re-expansion of the lung. The aim of this study is to find out whether combining non-invasive ventilatory support and standard physiotherapy is more effective than standard physiotherapy alone after pulmonary lobectomy.

Who can participate?
Adults who are scheduled to have a pulmonary lombectomy or bi-lombectomy.

What does the study involve?
Following surgery, participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Participants in the first group are treated using cPAP for two hours a day for three days. If participants are having particular problems breathing (more than 30 breaths a minute), then they are treated using NIMV instead for the same amount of time. Participants in this group also receive three days of standard physiotherapy, which involves a series of breathing and walking exercises as well as assisted coughing (where the physiotherapist pushes on the chest during coughing to help bring up mucus from the lungs). Participants in the second group receive standard physiotherapy only for the three days after their operation. At the start of the study and then again after 1 and 4 days, participants complete a breathing test to find out if their lung capacity (how much they can inhale) has increased. Participants also complete walking tests to judge how well they are recovering at 1 and 5 days after surgery.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no direct benefits or risks to those taking part in this study.

Where is the study run from?
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico (Italy)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2012 to September 2016

Who is funding the study?
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico (Italy)

Who is the main contact?
Professor Mario Nossoti
mario.nosotti@unimi.it

Contact information

Prof Mario Nosotti
Public

Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
Via Francesco Sforza, 35
Milan
20122
Italy

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-8571-121X
Phone +39 02 5503 5570
Email mario.nosotti@unimi.it

Study information

Study designProspective randomized controlled trial with post-interventional blinded evaluation
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet.
Scientific titleEfficacy of non-invasive ventilatory support in the physiotherapy treatment after pulmonary lobectomy
Study objectivesThe use of non-invasive ventilatory support with standard physiotherapy is more effective than standard physiotherapy alone after pulmonary lobectomy.
Ethics approval(s)Local Ethicals Committee (Comitato Etico Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milano), 10/10/2012, ref: 2369
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedPulmonary neoplastic or non-neoplastic disease requiring pulmonary lobectomy or bi-lobectomy
InterventionPatients are randomly divided in two groups in respect to postoperative physiotherapic treatment:

Intervention group: Participants are treated using continuous positive airway pressure (cPAP) (or non-invasive ventilation in case of respiratory rate is greater than 30 and/or PaCO2 is greater than 45 mmHg). This involves the cPAP (or NIV) delivery for 2 hours three times a day for 3 days. Participants in this group also receive standard physiotherapy.

Control group: Participants receive standard physiotherapy only.

Standard physiotherapy consists of:
1. Postoperative day (POD) 1: Maintaining the sitting position (at least 4 hours), walking (at least 30 minutes), assisted cough
2. POD 2: Maintaining the sitting position (at least 6 hours), walking (at least 90 minutes), assisted cough
3. POD 3: Maintaining the sitting position (at least 9 hours), walking (at least 180 minutes), assisted cough

Participants in both groups are followed up on postoperative days 1-5 and the length of their total hospital stay is recorded.
Intervention typeSupplement
Primary outcome measure1. Pulmonary volumes recovery is measured using the basal spirometry test at baseline, 1 and 4 days postoperatively
2. Total number of meters walked is measured using the 6 Minute Walking Test at baseline and 5 days postoperatively
3. Length of hospital stay is measured as the number of days from surgical operation to the discharge
Secondary outcome measures1. Gas exchange improvement is measured using systemic arterial blood gas analysis at baseline, 1 and 4 days postoperatively
2. Post-operative complications are measured (in particular pneumonia and/or atelectasis documented by Chest X-Ray) through clinical observations throughout the postoperative period
3. Chest tube duration is measured as the number of days from operation to the removal of the last chest tube
4. Air leak is measured in liters per hours using a digital device of chest drainage at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days postoperatively
Overall study start date01/09/2012
Completion date30/09/2016

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants160
Key inclusion criteria1. Aged between 18 and 78 years
2. Scheduled for pulmonary lobectomy or bi-lobectomy
3. Written informed consent obtenied
Key exclusion criteria1. Non aderhence or non-tolerating cPAP treatment
2. Need of mechanical ventilation beyond the postoperative day 1
3. Lack of physical ability to be treated by physiotherapy
4. Pulmonary complications after mechanical ventilation
5. Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
6. Mini-Mental State Examination score of less than 20
Date of first enrolment01/11/2012
Date of final enrolment30/06/2016

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Italy

Study participating centre

Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
Via Francesco Sforza, 35
Milan
20100
Italy

Sponsor information

Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
Hospital/treatment centre

Via Francesco Sforza, 28
Milan
20122
Italy

Phone +390255031
Email chirurgia_toracica@policlinico.mi.it
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/016zn0y21

Funders

Funder type

Hospital/treatment centre

Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/12/2016
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryStored in repository
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a Thoracic Surgery or Respiratory Journal.
IPD sharing plan