Screening of ARDS patients using standardized ventilator settings: influence on enrollment in a clinical trial

Abstract
The American–European consensus conference (AECC) definition for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requires a PaO2/FIO2≤200 mmHg, regardless of ventilator settings. We report the results of using standardized ventilator settings to screen and enroll ARDS patients in a clinical trial of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV), including the impact on study enrollment, and potential effects on study outcome.