Inhalational (Sevoflurane) Versus Intravenous (Propofol) Sedation in Adults With a Moderate Form of ARDS
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
What this study involves
The registry does not currently label this study as recruiting. Ask about its status before planning a screening visit.
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Age range
- 18 years - Not specified
- Sex eligible
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Participants
- 2 Actual
These are starting points, not an eligibility decision. The research team must review the full requirements.
Financial problems
About the research
The American European Consensus Conference (AECC) 1994 defined acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) as an acute inflammatory syndrome manifesting as diffuse pulmonary edema and respiratory failure that cannot be explained by, but may co-exist with, left-sided heart failure. During the sequel Conference of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, in 2012 minor changes were made, and since that so-called Berlin definition of ARDS is used worldwide for the description of this severe disease. Three grades of severity were proposed to distinguish ARDS according to the level of hypoxemia with a mortality of 24% in patients with mild ARDS, rising to 48% in those with severe ones.
Systemic inflammation is considered to be the main reason of ARDS. Activated neutrophils interact with the alveolar-capillary membrane causing the increasing permeability with the sequence lung edema's development. Inflammatory exudate inactivates surfactant leading to collapse and consolidation of distal airspaces with progressive loss of the lung's gas exchange surface area. Unfortunately, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) simultaneously inhibits the mechanism of active pulmonary vasoconstriction and allows deoxygenated blood to pass through unventilated areas of the lung boosting the right-to-left shunt. Both mechanisms lead to hypoxemia, which is the main and obligatory feature of ARDS.
Actually, endothelial dysfunction and transcapillary leakage seem to be one of the main steps in the development of respiratory failure during ARDS. Last decades it was found out that glycocalyx is also participating in this process too.
Thus, it became clear that substances preserving endothelium and glycocalyx from SIRS-causing damage may have a beneficial effect in ARDS treatment. It seems to be crucially important so as the majority of drugs failed to demonstrate any positive effects in terms of ARDS treatment.
To the moment we have some evidence, which came from experimental studies, that halogenated anesthetics can preserve glycocalyx against ischemia-reperfusion injury.
The primary objective for the multicentral INVERSE Trial will be to determine the effects of inhalational (sevoflurane) versus intravenous (propofol) sedation on P/F ratio on the second day, hospital mortality and ICU (intensive care unit), and in-hospital length of stay in adults with a moderate form of ARDS.
Who may be able to participate?
The list below is the sponsor’s full registry wording. It can include conditions, prior treatment, test results and other requirements. A match in search does not mean you qualify.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age \> 18
- Endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy
- Timing: Acute onset of new or worsening of chronic respiratory symptoms within 72 hours before the randomization
- Chest imaging: Bilateral opacities-not fully explained by effusions, lobar/lung collapse, or nodules
- Origin of edema: Respiratory failure not fully explained by cardiac failure or fluid overload
- Oxygenation: 100 mm Hg \< PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 200 mm Hg with PEEP ≥ 5 cm H2O
Exclusion Criteria:
- History or family history of malignant hyperthermia
- History of propofol infusion syndrome
- Documented or suspected increased intracranial pressure
- Chronic restrictive pulmonary disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Neuromuscular disease
- Chest wall disorder
- Pulmonary vascular disease
- NYHA class ≥ 3
- Severe pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary artery pressure \> 40 mmHg)
- Documented ongoing COVID-19 infection
- Ongoing immunosuppressive therapy
- Previous randomization in this trial
- Post randomization exclusion criterion: Documented ongoing COVID-19 infection during the first 48 hours after the randomization
Treatment, groups and participation
The registry may describe treatments and study duration without a complete visit calendar. Ask the study team for the exact schedule, procedures, risks, costs and alternatives. Keep your usual care plan unless your treating clinician tells you otherwise.
- Assignment
- Random assignment
- Masking
- Triple masked
Inhalational sedation
Not reported in this registry record.
Drug: Sevoflurane
Intravenous sedation
Not reported in this registry record.
Drug: Propofol
Sevoflurane DRUG
Patients are to be sedated by sevoflurane inhalation. For this purpose, any certificated devices are suitable - AnaConDa or Mirus evenly. Starting dose of sevoflurane is to be 2 ml/h and may be modified at the discretion of the attending intensivist to achieve and maintain the target level of sedation
Propofol DRUG
Patients of this group will receive an intravenous infusion of propofol with starting dose of 1 mg/kg/h. The precise dose to maintain the desired level of sedation is left at the discretion of the attending intensivist and may be revised at any time. The upper dose limit for propofol is 4 mg/kg/h. In case of tolerance to propofol infusion, midazolam or antipsychotics (haloperidol) can be added to achieve the desired level of sedation
What researchers are measuring
Outcome measures describe what is being studied. They are not proof that a treatment works.
Primary measures
P/F ratio
Time frame: day 2 after the randomization
PaO2 divided on FiO2
Secondary measures
28-days mortality
Time frame: 28 day
number of deaths
6-months mortality
Time frame: 6 months
number of deaths
1-year mortality
Time frame: 1 year
number of death
Length of stay in the intensive care unit
Time frame: 1 year
number of days in the intensive care unit
Length of hospitalization
Time frame: 1 year
number of days in hospital
Ventilator free days in ICU
Time frame: 1 year
number of days in ICU - number of days on mechanical ventilation
Ventilator free days during hospitalization
Time frame: 1 year
Length of hospitalization - number of days on mechanical ventilation
Review the complete result tables and limitations in the official record.
Open official results ↗Research locations (1)
The overall study status and a local site’s status can differ. Confirm that location’s availability before traveling.
1 locations
Demikhov Municipal Clinical Hospital 68Moscow, RussiaStatus unknown
Study team and timeline
- Lead sponsor
- Negovsky Reanimatology Research Institute
- Study start
- Mar 14, 2022 Actual
- Primary completion
- Jan 20, 2023 Actual
- Study completion
- Jan 20, 2023 Actual
- First posted
- Feb 28, 2022 Actual
- Last updated
- Nov 10, 2026 Actual
Official study contacts
No central contact is listed. Check the locations and the official record.
Official study title
Inhalational (Sevoflurane) Versus Intravenous (Propofol) Sedation in Adults With a Moderate Form of ARDS: A Multicentral Randomized Pilot Trial
Ask Wellness Clinical Research
Your message goes to WCR, including when this study is run by another organization. WCR may offer general guidance but may not operate this trial, have access to its team or be able to enroll you.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Information is submitted by sponsors and investigators. NLM does not approve the safety or science of all listed studies. Registry disclaimer.
Retrieved: Nov 12, 2026 · Last registry update: Nov 10, 2026
