Evaluating a way to increase expiratory muscle strength to PREVENT additional days of ventilator support

The PREVENT study is evaluating the efficacy of the VentFree® Respiratory Muscle Stimulator to assist critically ill patients in coming off of a ventilator.

Pivotal Evaluation of Abdominal Functional Electrical Stimulation for Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation (PREVENT)


Study Objectives

What are the objectives of the PREVENT study?

The primary objective of the trial is to determine whether abdominal functional electrical stimulation delivered with the VentFree Respiratory Muscle Stimulator reduces the duration of invasive mechanical ventilation in critically ill adult patients compared to a sham control.

The secondary objectives are to determine whether abdominal FES increases the strength of the respiratory muscles, improves quality of life after discharge and reduces reintubations, hospital acquired infections, hospital and ICU length of stay and 90-day readmissions.

Study Overview

In the PREVENT study, the VentFree device will be applied for 30 minutes, twice per day for a minimum of five days per week until ICU discharge or 28 days whichever occurs first.

This study is for critically ill, adult patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation in an ICU setting, who are expected to be difficult to wean.

Eligible patients include:  

  • Receiving invasive mechanical ventilation for ≥ 24 hours but ≤ 72 hours at the time of enrollment

  • Not expected to be disconnected from mechanical ventilation within 24 hours after enrollment.

Prior Clinical Results

Pilot Study 1

A double-blinded, randomised, sham-controlled pilot study.

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Pilot Study 2

A randomized controlled feasibility study and pooled analysis.

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Expiratory Function

• 155% greater peak expiratory flow at extubation (P = 0.06)
• 36% greater maximum expiratory pressure at extubation (P = 0.28)

Clinical Outcomes

• Reduced ventilator duration (P = 0.07, median 2 day reduction in survivors)
• Reduced ICU length of stay (P = 0.03, median 3.5 day reduction in survivors)

Safety

• No device related adverse events requiring medical intervention


What is the VentFree® Respiratory Muscle Stimulator?

VentFree is a medical device used for the treatment of adult patients on invasive mechanical ventilation at the time of treatment initiation to increase cough and expiratory muscle strength and to reduce the number of days of ventilator support. 

The VentFree Respiratory Muscle Stimulator uses non-invasive abdominal functional electrical stimulation to contract the abdominal wall muscles in synchrony with exhalation during mechanical ventilation and post-extubation.

Improve expiratory
muscle function

Non-invasive & safe

Reduces ventilator days

The VentFree device being used in the PREVENT study is for INVESTIGATIONAL USE ONLY  

Consequences of Mechanical Ventilation

Hospital mortality is almost double in those patients who take more than 7 days to wean from ventilator support when compared to patients who require less.

Patients Lives

Prolonged periods in the ICU result in reduced functional status and increased mortality up to one year after discharge.

Quality of Life

Economic Cost

Each incremental day of mechanical ventilation in the ICU is associated with a cost of $1,500. 

References

Patient Lives - Peñuelas, O. et al. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 184, 430–437 (2011)

Quality of Life - Cox, C. E. et al. Crit Care 11, R9 (2007)

Economic Cost - Dasta, J. F. et al. Critical Care Medicine 33, 1266-1271 (2005)


Study Locations

Working with top institutions across the globe


Funding

  • The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, 820 Chandler Street, Fort Detrick MD 21702-5014 is the awarding and administering acquisition office.

  • This work was supported by The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs endorsed by the Department of Defense, in the amount of $6,480,942, through the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program under Award Number W81XWH2211123. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations contained herein are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily endorsed by the Department of Defense.

Questions?

For more information on Liberate Medical and the PREVENT study contact us.

MKT-VF-09-000