EIT in ARDS: what we know and what we still do not

Category	Detail
Condition	Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
Key Mechanisms	Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) provides real-time, noninvasive monitoring of lung aeration and ventilation, aiding in the adjustment of PEEP and tidal volume.
Target Population	Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome requiring mechanical ventilation.
Care Setting	Critical care and intensive care units.

EIT can guide PEEP selection to minimize alveolar overdistension and improve hemodynamics.
EIT monitoring during prone positioning can enhance ventilation homogeneity without increasing airway pressure.
EIT helps identify patients likely to respond to prone positioning based on regional ventilation and perfusion.
EIT can monitor tidal volume distribution during weaning from mechanical ventilation to inform extubation decisions.
EIT provides insights into expiratory muscle activity and its impact on oxygenation during spontaneous breathing.

Adjust PEEP based on EIT findings to optimize alveolar recruitment and minimize overdistension.

Utilize EIT for real-time monitoring of ventilation–perfusion mismatch and tidal volume distribution.

Be aware of the potential for ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) with inappropriate tidal volume settings.

Patients with ARDS undergoing mechanical ventilation.

EIT-guided adjustments to PEEP and tidal volume may improve respiratory mechanics and reduce the risk of VILI.

Incorporate EIT into routine monitoring for ARDS patients on mechanical ventilation.
Evaluate EIT data alongside traditional gas exchange indices for comprehensive assessment.
Consider EIT findings when determining the timing of extubation and post-extubation support.

Clinical Scorecard: Electrical Impedance Tomography in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Current Insights and Remaining Gaps