PRotective VENTilation in Patients Without ARDS

The purpose of this national multicentre randomized controlled trial is to compare a ventilation strategy using lower tidal volumes and higher respiratory rates with a ventilation strategy using higher tidal volumes and a lower respiratory rate in intubated and ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients without Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) at start of ventilation. Participating centres in The Netherlands will include a total of 952 adult patients admitted to intensive care units without ARDS. Patients are randomized and ventilated with either a strategy with lower tidal volumes (4 to 6 ml/kg predicted body weight (PBW)) or a strategy with higher tidal volumes (8 to 10 ml/kg PBW). Patients will be assessed every day until day 28 or discharge of the intensive care unit, whichever comes first, on day 28 and on day 90. Primary endpoint is the number of ventilator-free days at day 28. Secondary endpoints are ICU- and hospital length of stay (LOS) and - mortality, the incidence of development of ARDS, pneumonia, atelectasis, and pneumothorax, the cumulative use and duration of sedatives, and neuromuscular blocking agents, incidences of ICU delirium and ICU acquired weakness, patient-ventilator asynchrony and the need for decreasing of instrumental dead space.