Lung EIT Image Guide Ventilation in ARDS

The goal of this multi-center randomized controlled clinical trial is to learn if an individualized, bedside electrical impedance tomography (EIT)-guided ventilation strategy (including EIT-guided prone positioning and PEEP titration) can improve outcomes compared with a conventional lung-protective ventilation strategy in adult patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the individualized EIT-guided ventilation strategy reduce 28-day mortality in ARDS patients? Researchers will compare the EIT-guided intervention arm to a control arm receiving routine lung-protective ventilation (without bedside EIT guidance) to see if the EIT-guided approach lowers 28-day mortality and improves other clinical outcomes. Adult ARDS patients who meet inclusion criteria will be assigned to EIT-guided group and control group through stratified randomization: EIT-guided group: Undergo bedside EIT assessments using a China-manufactured EIT device to guide decisions about prone positioning and individualized PEEP titration (including a recruitment maneuver). Control group: Receive PEEP setting per conventional PEEP-FiO₂ tables and prone positioning per standard clinical indications without EIT guidance. Both groups: Receive standard supportive ICU care and routine outcome assessments at multiple time points. Primary outcome: 28-day mortality. Other outcomes include ventilator-free days to day 28 and so on.