ARDSnet (ARMA) - Ventilation with Lower Tidal Volumes as Compared with Traditional Tidal Volumes for Acute Lung Injury and the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Brower RG, et al. "Ventilation With Lower Tidal Volumes As Compared With Traditional Tidal Volumes For Acute Lung Injury And The Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome". The New England Journal of Medicine. 2000. 342(18):1301-1308.
Link to Article: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM200005043421801
Clinical Question
In patients with ALI/ARDS receiving mechanical ventilation, how does a lung protective strategy using lower tidal volumes compare with traditional ventilation protocols in decreasing mortality and ventilator-free days?
Type of Trial: RCT, 2×2 study combined with ketoconazole treatment (published separately)
Ketoconazole arm of study was later stopped due to inability to show efficacy ; name changed from KARMA to ARMA
Blinding: Single; clinicians were aware of the allocation arm
Setting: 10 university affiliated ARDSnet centers in the USA from March 1996 - March 1999
Intention to treat analysis: yes
PICO
Population:
861 patients >18 years old receiving mechanical ventilation with a dx of ARDS/ALI <36h prior to enrollment as defined as acute decrease in P/F</= 300, bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on CXR, PCWP</= 18 mmHg without evidence of L atrial hypertension
Excluded:
pregnancy; neuropathies; chronic lung disease; severe burns
Intervention:
Low tidal volume ventilation with protocol for limiting plateau pressures and respiratory acidaemia
Volume-assist-control ventilation with 6 ml/kg/breath (ideal body weight)
Plateau pressure < 30 cm water
Control:
Traditional, higher, tidal volume ventilation with similar protocol
Volume-assist-control ventilation with 12ml/kg/breath (ideal body weight)
Plateau pressure < 50 cm water
Outcome:
1st Primary outcome: reduced mortality favoured lower volume ventilation
39.8% vs 31.0% (p=0.007)
2nd Primary outcome: increased ventilator-free days favoured lower volume ventilation
12+/-11 days vs 10 +/-11 days (p=0.007)
Conclusions
Lower-tidal-volume protocol should be used in patients with acute lung injury and the acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Strengths
Well designed methodology for the clinical question
Adequately powered to detect small difference in primary outcome
Weaknesses
As a group sequential clinical trial, it will statistically favour a positive outcome.
Only single-blinded: clinician aware of allocation, but no apparent difference in care provided with exception of PEEP level.
The small between group difference in PEEP level may favour the intervention group.
Take Note
Patients with ARDS should be ventilated with tidal volumes of 6 cc/kg
Sources:
https://www.thebottomline.org.uk