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RecruitingNCT07258875VEXUSUpdated Dec 2, 2025

Effect of VExUS Ultrasound Protocol (Venous Excess Ultrasound) on Perioperative Fluid Management, on the Incidence of Postoperative Pulmonary Complications and Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing Thoracic Surgery

An interventional study of Venous Excess Ultrasound and Standard of Care (SOC) in Thoracic Surgery With One-lung Ventilation, VExUS and Fluid Management, sponsored by University of Crete. Recruiting at 1 site in Greece. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-12-02.

Sponsored by University of Crete · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 11 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Nov 2024, registered Nov 2025).
  • Started Nov 2024; still recruiting 1 year 11 months later.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
230
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study aims to investigate the effect of a VExUS ultrasound guided protocol of perioperative fluid management within a goal-directed therapy framework, on postoperative respiratory complications, and the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing thoracic surgery.

Read the detailed description

In thoracic surgery, intraoperative fluid management presents a challenge for anesthesiologists, as patients are at high risk of developing interstitial and alveolar edema of the lungs. A history of pulmonary disease, previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy in the area, one-lung ventilation, surgical manipulation, and ischemia-reperfusion injury can all damage the respiratory epithelium's glycocalyx, the alveolar epithelium, and surfactant, ultimately leading to pulmonary injury. These factors, combined with liberal perioperative fluid management, increase the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), atelectasis, pneumonia, and ultimately postoperative mortality. Traditionally, a restrictive fluid management strategy is employed intraoperatively, with crystalloid administration at a rate of 1-2 ml/kg/h, ensuring that the perioperative fluid balance does not exceed 1500 ml. This restrictive strategy may increase the risk of hypovolemia, which can lead to tissue hypoperfusion, target organ dysfunction, and acute kidney injury. Within the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols, goal-directed therapy (GDT) for fluid management in thoracic surgery is discussed but not explicitly recommended. Recommendations include avoiding overly restrictive or completely liberal fluid strategies, maintaining euvolemia, and preventing tissue hypoperfusion with balanced use of inotropic agents and fluid administration.

Pulmonary injury is the leading cause of death following thoracic surgery. Pre-existing respiratory disease, surgical manipulation, lung parenchyma resection, and the detrimental effects of one-lung ventilation increase the risk of postoperative respiratory complications. Although overhydration and ventilation with high tidal volumes have been replaced by a restrictive fluid strategy and the application of protective mechanical ventilation, it appears that all factors involved in ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) also play a harmful role in one-lung ventilation. High strain on the ventilated lung, oxidative stress, surgical trauma, recruitment maneuvers, biological trauma, atelectatic trauma, and ischemia-reperfusion injury are the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to postoperative acute respiratory failure and, in 2-5% of cases, to ARDS.

Postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) represents 18-47% of in-hospital AKI and is associated with prolonged hospitalization and high morbidity and mortality. Recently, the implementation of new AKI classifications (RIFLE, AKIN, KDIGO) has facilitated its early recognition for immediate preventive measures. Additionally, the detection of two early urinary biomarkers of kidney stress, the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) and the insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7), has contributed to this. Postoperatively, an increase in serum creatinine by up to 0.5 mg/dL from baseline has been associated with a threefold increase in mortality following cardiac surgery. Potential pathophysiological mechanisms of postoperative AKI include ischemia, inflammation, and toxins. However, in thoracic surgeries, both the hypovolemia of a restrictive fluid administration strategy and overhydration and venous congestion can equally lead to acute kidney injury postoperatively.

The VExUS protocol is a standardized point-of-care ultrasound examination that includes measurements of the inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter, combined with Doppler analysis of waveforms in the hepatic vein, portal vein, and renal veins. From this analysis, the presence of venous congestion-classified as mild or severe-or its absence is determined. A high VExUS score (grade 3) has been strongly associated with the occurrence of acute kidney injury in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and has more recently been linked to elevated right atrial pressure (RAP ≥ 12 mmHg). The protocol includes the following classification:

Grade 0: IVC \< 2 cm Grade 1: IVC ≥ 2 cm, with normal or mildly abnormal waveforms in the hepatic, portal, and renal veins (mild congestion) Grade 2: IVC ≥ 2 cm, with severely altered waveforms in at least one vein (moderate congestion) Grade 3: IVC ≥ 2 cm, with severely altered waveforms in multiple veins (severe congestion).

A single-center clinical study conducted in the Anesthesiology Clinic of the University General Hospital of Heraklion.

Parallel design in two groups.Preoperative assessment, fasting, and premedication according to the routine of the department:

  • Discontinuation of fluid intake 2 hours before surgery
  • cessation of food intake 6 hours preoperatively
  • discontinuation on the day of surgery of ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, thiazide diuretics, and loop diuretics.

Upon entering the operating room, patients will be connected standard ASA monitors: 5 lead ECG, pulse oximetry (SpO2), non-invasive blood pressure measurement. Under local anaesthesia an arterial catheter will be placed for invasive blood pressure measurement and blood gas sampling, along with at least two venous catheters of 16-20 G. Anesthesia and postoperative analgesia management will depend solely on the discretion of the responsible anesthesiologist. After anesthesia induction and double-lumen endotracheal tube placement, patients will be connected to the anesthesia machine, recruitment maneuvers will be performed with PEEP titration, and they will be mechanically ventilated applying the principles of protective mechanical ventilation. The correct placement of the endotracheal tube will be confirmed with fiberoptic bronchoscopy immediately after placement. A urinary catheter will be placed for hourly urine measurement, along with a thermometer.

Intraoperatively, the total administered fluids, hourly urine output, type and dose of vasopressor medications, and blood pressure (SAP, DAP, MAP) will be recorded every 15 minutes (unless a significant change occurs), along with arterial blood gases and lactate.

Protective Mechanical Ventilation of One Lung:

Ventilated lung:

Tidal volume (Vt): 4-5 ml/kg ideal body weight, Appropriate PEEP of 5-15 cmH2O, possible repeat of recruitment maneuver Plateau pressure - PEEP: up to 15 cmH2O, Management of respiratory rate (RR) aiming for permitted mild hypercapnia (PaCO2 = 40-60 mmHg), Modification of the I ratio to avoid air trapping and the emergence of PEEPi, Titration of FiO2 to achieve SpO2 = 88-92%, Protection against hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction by avoiding vasodilators, hypoventilation, alkalosis, hypothermia, and if inhaled anesthetics are used, maintaining MAC \< 1, Mechanical ventilation model: Volume Control- Auto Flow on the Perseus A500 and Atlan A350 machines from Drager available in the Anesthesia Clinic.

Non-ventilated lung with SpO2 \< 88%:

Recruitment maneuvers with the use of PEEP if possible, Use of CPAP, FiO2 = 100% and cessation of one lung ventilation.

Control Group:

Intraoperatively patients of the control group will be administered isotonic crystalloids (Lactated Ringer's, Plasma-Lyte) at a rate of 3 mL/kg/h.

VExUS-guided Group:

VExUS Evaluation. The VExUS evaluation will be performed pre- and immediately post-intubation before one-lung ventilation initiation. A trained anesthesiologist (will evaluate the patient according to the VExUS protocol, measuring the IVC diameter and performing Doppler analysis of the hepatic, portal, and renal veins. A VExUS score will be assigned as outlined in the section above.

Ultrasound monitoring will be performed according to the VExUS protocol before positioning the patient in the lateral decubitus position. In patients with VExUS grade 0, a bolus of 250-500 mL (approximately 3 mL/kg) will be administered, followed by the infusion of crystalloids at a rate of 3 mL/kg/h. The inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter will be measured three times: once prior to anesthesia induction, once immediately after intubation, and once before patient emergence from anesthesia. In patients with VExUS grade 1, no bolus will be given, and only a fluid infusion at 3 mL/kg/h will be administered. In patients with VExUS grades 2 and 3, 10 mg of furosemide will be administered intravenously, followed by crystalloids infusion at a rate of 2 mL/kg/h.

In both groups, blood losses will be replaced with a 5% albumin solution at a 1:1 ratio. Transfusion will be administered to maintain hemoglobin levels at 9 mg/dL. Both groups will follow the same multimodal anesthesia-analgesia protocol, with restricted opioid use in accordance with the departmental routine.

Intraoperative hypotension (systolic arterial pressure \< 90 mmHg or a decrease > 20% from baseline) will be managed with titrated norepinephrine infusion.

Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)

Control Group:

Fluid administration will continue at a rate of 3 mL/kg/h as per standard practice.

VExUS-guided Group:

VExUS ultrasound will be repeated postoperatively. In patients with VExUS grade 0, a bolus of 250-500 mL (approximately 3 mL/kg) will be administered, followed by the infusion of crystalloids at a rate of 3 mL/kg/h. In patients with grades 1 to 3, 10 mg of intravenous furosemide will be administered, followed by a fluid infusion at 3 mL/kg/h and reassessment.

Patients will be monitored daily for the occurrence of postoperative respiratory complications as defined by the European Society of Anaesthesiology. Preoperative blood gas values (PaO2, PaCO2) will be measured as baseline, and postoperative blood gases will be collected on the 1st and 3rd postoperative days in the PACU. Oxygenation will be assessed using the PaO2/FiO2 ratio, and lactate levels will be measured concurrently.

Additionally, for each patient, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using serum creatinine, cystatin C or both will be calculated preoperatively and on the 1st and 3rd postoperative days in PACU. To assess acute kidney injury (AKI), serum creatinine and cystatin C will be measured on the 1st and 3rd postoperative days, and AKI diagnosis and classification will follow KDIGO (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes) criteria.

The following kidney injury biomarkers will also be measured:

Serum cystatin C, Total urine protein and albumin, Urine beta-2 microglobulin, Urine creatinine. Kidney stress biomarkers TIMP-2 and IGFBP7 in urine, as described above, will be measured immediately postoperatively in the PACU.

These biomarkers will also be measured in the PACU and on the 1st and 3rd postoperative days.

02

Conditions studied

  • Thoracic Surgery With One-lung Ventilation
  • VExUS
  • Fluid Management
  • Acute Kidney Injury
  • Postoperative Pulmonary Complications (PPCs)

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Keywords

  • VExUS, fluid management, pulmonary complications, acute kidney injury, thoracic surgery, one lung ventilation
03

In context

Acute Kidney Injury

1,691 studies on the registry are indexed under Acute Kidney Injury; 395 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 230 is above the median of 100 across 817 interventional studies indexed under Acute Kidney Injury.

Browse Acute Kidney Injury studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Crete is the lead sponsor of 23 studies on the registry; 6 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults >18 years undergoing video assisted thoracic surgery/ lobectomy requiring one-lung ventilation.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Refusal to participate.
  • Pneumonectomy.
  • Young athletes (risk of physiologically large IVC >2 cm).
  • Moderate-severe tricuspid regurgitation, moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension
  • Heart failure with reduced , EF\<35%
  • Portal hypertension, portal vein thrombosis, or liver cirrhosis.
  • Stage 4 or end-stage chronic kidney disease ( \<30 mL/min/1.73 m² or dialysis).
  • Transfusion with more than 2 packed red blood cells unit perioperatively (intraoperatively, in the PACU, in the ward)
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction)

The share of blood the heart’s main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) pushes out with each beat, measured by an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) or a MUGA scan. About 50–70% is normal.

GFR and eGFR (kidney filtering)

GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².

Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
230 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Placebo comparator
    standard of care group

    Intraoperatively patients of the control group will be administered isotonic crystalloids (Lactated Ringer's, Plasma-Lyte) at a rate of 3 mL/kg/h.Fluid administration will continue at a rate of 3 mL/kg/h as per standard practice in the postanaesthesia care unit( PACU) also.In both groups, blood losses more than 300 ml will be replaced with a 5% albumin solution at a 1:1 ratio. Transfusion will be administered to maintain hemoglobin levels at 9 mg/dL. Both groups will follow the same multimodal anesthesia-analgesia protocol, with restricted opioid use in accordance with the departmental routine. Intraoperative hypotension (systolic arterial pressure \< 90 mmHg or a decrease \> 20% from baseline) will be managed with titrated norepinephrine infusion.

    Other: Standard of Care (SOC)

  • Active comparator
    vexus guided group

    The VExUS evaluation will be performed pre- and immediately post-intubation before one-lung ventilation initiation. Ultrasound monitoring will be performed according to the VExUS protocol before positioning the patient in the lateral decubitus position. In patients with VExUS grade 0, a bolus of 250-500 mL (approximately 3 mL/kg) will be administered, followed by the infusion of crystalloids at a rate of 3 mL/kg/h. The inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter will be measured three times: once prior to anesthesia induction, once immediately after intubation, and once before patient emergence from anesthesia. In patients with VExUS grade 1, no bolus will be given, and only a fluid infusion at 3 mL/kg/h will be administered. In patients with VExUS grades 2 and 3, 10 mg of furosemide will be administered intravenously, followed by crystalloids infusion at a rate of 2 mL/kg/h.VExUS ultrasound will be repeated postoperatively in the PACU, following the same pattern of intervention.

    Diagnostic Test: Venous Excess Ultrasound

Interventions

  • Diagnostic testVenous Excess Ultrasound

    The VExUS protocol is a standardized point-of-care ultrasound examination that includes measurements of the inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter, combined with Doppler analysis of waveforms in the hepatic vein, portal vein, and renal veins. From this analysis, the presence of venous congestion-classified as mild or severe-or its absence is determined. A high VExUS score (grade 3) has been strongly associated with the occurrence of acute kidney injury in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and has more recently been linked to elevated right atrial pressure (RAP ≥ 12 mmHg). The protocol includes the following classification: * Grade 0: IVC \< 2 cm * Grade 1: IVC ≥ 2 cm, with normal or mildly abnormal waveforms in the hepatic, portal, and renal veins (mild congestion) * Grade 2: IVC ≥ 2 cm, with severely altered waveforms in at least one vein (moderate congestion) * Grade 3: IVC ≥ 2 cm, with severely altered waveforms in multiple veins (severe congestion)

    Also known as: VEXUS

  • OtherStandard of Care (SOC)

    Intraoperatively patients of the control group will be administered isotonic crystalloids (Lactated Ringer's, Plasma-Lyte) at a rate of 3 mL/kg/h.Fluid administration will continue at a rate of 3 mL/kg/h as per standard practice in the PACU.

    Also known as: standard of care

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Kidney function-estimated glomerular filtration rate preoperatively

    Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using serum creatinine, cystatin C or both calculated by CKD-EPI 2021 and MDRD equation

    Time frame: preoperatively

  2. Kidney function-estimated glomerular filtration rate in the PACU

    Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using serum creatinine, cystatin C or both calculated by CKD-EPI 2021 and MDRD equation

    Time frame: in the PACU

  3. Kidney function- estimated glomerular filtration rate on postoperative day 1

    Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using serum creatinine, cystatin C or both calculated by CKD-EPI 2021 or MDRD equation.

    Time frame: postoperative day 1

  4. Kidney function-estimated glomerular filtration rate on postoperative day 3

    Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using serum creatinine, cystatin C or both calculated by tha CKD-EPI 2021 and MDRD equation

    Time frame: on postoperative day 3

  5. Urine output intraoperatively

    Kidney function as quantified by urine output. Data will be reported as an averaged intraoperative rate in ml/kg\*h.

    Time frame: From anesthesia induction, until the end of surgery

  6. Urinary output postoperatively in the PACU

    Kidney function as quantified by urine output. Data will be reported as an averaged intraoperative rate in ml/kg\*h.

    Time frame: during the PACU stay

  7. Renal stress biomarkers TIMP-2,IGFBP-7

    The detection of two early urinary biomarkers of kidney stress, the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) and the insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7), has contributed to early diagnosis of AKI and renal stress.Urine sample collection will take place in both study groups.

    Time frame: postoperatively in the PACU

  8. Serum Creatinine preoperatively

    Baseline serum creatinine measurement, in mg/dl.Blood sample collection will take place in both study groups.

    Time frame: preoperatively

  9. Serum creatinine in the PACU

    serum creatinine measurement, in mg/dl.Blood sample collection will take place in both study groups.

    Time frame: during the PACU stay

  10. Serum creatinine on postoperative day 1

    Serum creatine measurement in mg/dlBlood sample collection will take place in both study groups.

    Time frame: postoperative day 1

  11. Serum creatinine on postoperative day 3

    measurement of serum creatinine in mg/dl.Blood sample collection will take place in both study groups.

    Time frame: postoperative day 3

  12. Serum cystatin C preoperatively

    baseline measurement of serum cystatin C in mg/L.Blood sample collection will take place in both study groups.

    Time frame: preoperatively

  13. serum cyctatin C in the PACU

    measurement of serum cystatin C postopertively in the PACU.Blood sample collection will take place in both study groups.

    Time frame: during the PACU stay

  14. serum cystatin C on postoperative day 1

    measurement of serum cystatin C in mg/L.Blood sample collection will take place in both study groups.

    Time frame: postoperative day 1

  15. serum cystatin C on postoperative day 3

    measurement of serum cystatin C in mg/LBlood sample collection will take place in both study groups.

    Time frame: postoperative day 3

  16. urine beta-2 microglobulin preoperatively

    baseline measurement of beta-2 microglobulin in urine, as a renal stress marker.Urine sample collection will take place in both study groups.

    Time frame: preoperatively

  17. urine beta-2 microglobulin in the PACU

    measurement of beta-2 microglobuline in urine.Urine sample collection will take place in both study groups.

    Time frame: during the PACU stay

  18. urine beta-2 microglobulin on postoperative day 1

    measurement of beta-2 microglobulin in urine.Urine sample collection will take place in both study groups.

    Time frame: postoperative day 1

  19. urine beta-2 microglobulin on postoperative day 3

    measurement of beta-2 microglobulin in urine.Urine sample collection will take place in both study groups.

    Time frame: postoperative day 3

  20. total urine protein preoperatively

    baseline total urine protein measurement in mg/L in both groups of patients

    Time frame: preoperatively

  21. total urine protein in the PACU

    Measurement of total urine protein in mg/l in both groups of patients

    Time frame: during the PACU stay

  22. total urine protein on postoperative day 1

    total urine protein measurement in mg/L in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 1

  23. total urine protein on postoperative day 3

    measurement of total urine protein in mg/L in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 3

  24. urine albumin preoperatively

    baseline measurement of urine albumin in both groups of patients

    Time frame: preoperatively

  25. urine albumin in the PACU

    urine albumin measurement in both groups of patients

    Time frame: during the PACU stay

  26. urine albumin on postoperative day 1

    measurement of urine albumin in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 1

  27. urine albumin on postoperative day 3

    measurement of urine albumin in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 3

  28. urine creatinine preoperatively

    urine creatinine baseline measurement in g/L in both groups of patients

    Time frame: preoperatively

  29. urine creatinine in the PACU

    urine creatinine measurement in g/L in both groups of patients

    Time frame: during the PACU stay

  30. urine creatinine on postoperative day 1

    measurement of urine creatinine in g/l in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 1

  31. urine creatinine on postoperative day 3

    measurement of urine creatinine in g/l in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 3

  32. urine albumin to creatinine ratio preoperatively

    baseline measurement of urine albumin to creatinine ratio in both groups of patients

    Time frame: preoperatively

  33. urine albumin to creatinine ratio in the PACU

    measurement of urine albumin to creatinine ratio in both groups of patients

    Time frame: during the PACU stay

  34. urine albumin to creatinine ratio on postoperative day 1

    measurement of urine albumin to creatinine ratio in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 1

  35. urine albumin to creatinine ratio on postoperative day 3

    measurement of urine albumin to creatinine ratio in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 3

  36. urine protein to creatinine ratio preoperatively

    baseline measurement of urine protein to creatinine ratio in both groups of patients

    Time frame: preoperatively

  37. urine protein to creatinine ratio in the PACU

    measurement of protein to creatinine ratio in both groups of patients

    Time frame: during the PACU stay

  38. urine protein to creatinine ratio on postoperative day 1

    measurement of protein to creatinine ratio in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 1

  39. urine protein to creatinine ratio on postoperative day 3

    measurement of protein to creatinine ratio in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 3

  40. pulse oximetry (SpO2) preoperatively

    baseline pulse oximetry measurement in both groups of patients

    Time frame: preoperatively

  41. pulse oximetry (SpO2) intraoperatively

    mean of pulse oximetry measurements in both groups of patients

    Time frame: during one lung ventilation

  42. pulse oximetry (SpO2) in the PACU

    mean of pulse oximetry measurements in both groups of patients

    Time frame: during the PACU stay

  43. pulse oximetry (SpO2) on postoperative day 1

    pulse oximetry measurement in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 1

  44. pulse oximetry (SpO2) on postoperative day 3

    pulse oximetry measurement in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 3

  45. arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) preoperatively

    baseline measurement of arterial oxygen saturation in both groups of patients by arterial blood gas analysis

    Time frame: preoperatively

  46. arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) intraoperatively

    mean of measurement of arterial oxygen saturation in both groups of patients by arterial blood gas analysis

    Time frame: intraoperatively

  47. arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) in the PACU

    mean of measurement of arterial oxygen saturation in both groups of patients by arterial blood gas analysis

    Time frame: during the PACU stay

  48. arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) on postoperative day 1

    measurement of arterial oxygen saturation in both groups of patients by arterial blood gas analysis

    Time frame: postoperative day 1

  49. arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) on postoperative day 3

    measurement of arterial oxygen saturation in both groups of patients by arterial blood gas analysis

    Time frame: postoperative day 3

  50. arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2) preoperatively

    baseline measurement of arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure in mmHg in both groups of patients

    Time frame: preoperatively

  51. arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure intraoperatively

    mean of arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure measurements in mmHg in both groups of patients

    Time frame: intraoperatively

  52. arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure in the PACU

    mean of arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure measurements in mmHg in both groups of patients

    Time frame: during the PACU stay

  53. arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure on postoperative day 1

    arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure measurement in mmHg in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 1

  54. arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure on postoperative day 3

    arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure measurement in mmHg in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 3

  55. arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) preoperatively

    arterial oxygen partial pressure baseline measurement in mmHg in both groups of patients

    Time frame: preoperatively

  56. arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) intraoperatively

    mean of arterial oxygen partial pressure measurements in mmHg in both groups of patients during one lung ventilation

    Time frame: intraoperatively

  57. arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) in the PACU

    mean of arterial oxygen partial pressure measurements in mmHg in both groups of patients

    Time frame: during the PACU stay

  58. arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) on postoperative day 1

    arterial oxygen partial pressure measurement in mmHg in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 1

  59. arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) on postoperative day 3

    arterial oxygen partial pressure measurement in mmHg in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 3

  60. arterial lactate measurement preoperatively

    baseline measurement of arterial lactate in mmol/L by arterial blood gas analysis in both groups of patients

    Time frame: preoperatively

  61. arterial lactate measurement intraoperatively

    mean of measurements of arterial lactate in mmol/L by arterial blood gas analysis in both groups of patients

    Time frame: intraoperatively

  62. arterial lactate measurement in the PACU

    mean of measurements of arterial lactate in mmol/L by arterial blood gas analysis in both groups of patients

    Time frame: during the PACU stay

  63. arterial lactate measurement on postoperative day 1

    measurement of arterial lactate in mmol/L by arterial blood gas analysis in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 1

  64. arterial lactate measurement on postoperative day 3

    measurement of arterial lactate in mmol/L by arterial blood gas analysis in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 3

  65. oxygen partial pressure to fraction of oxygen in inspired air ratio (P/F ratio) in arterial blood preoperatively

    baseline measurement of P/F ratio by arterial blood gas analysis in both groups of patients

    Time frame: preoperatively

  66. oxygen partial pressure to fraction of oxygen in inspired air ratio (P/F ratio) in arterial blood intraoperatively

    mean of measurements of P/F ratio by arterial blood gas analysis in both groups of patients

    Time frame: intraoperatively

  67. oxygen partial pressure to fraction of oxygen in inspired air ratio (P/F ratio) in arterial blood in the PACU

    mean of measurements of P/F ratio by arterial blood gas analysis in both groups of patients

    Time frame: during the PACU stay

  68. oxygen partial pressure to fraction of oxygen in inspired air ratio (P/F ratio) in arterial blood on postoperative day 1

    measurement of P/F ratio by arterial blood gas analysis in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 1

  69. oxygen partial pressure to fraction of oxygen in inspired air ratio (P/F ratio) in arterial blood on postoperative day 3

    measurement of P/F ratio by arterial blood gas analysis in both groups of patients

    Time frame: postoperative day 3

  70. occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PCCs) on postoperative day 1

    Patients will be monitored for the occurrence of postoperative respiratory complications as defined by the European Society of Anaesthesiology, including aspiration pneumonitis, respiratory failure, ARDS, pulmonary infection, atelectasis, cardiopulmonary edema, pleural infusion, pneumothorax, pulmonary infiltrates, prolonged air leakage, purulent pleuritis, pulmonary embolism, lung hemorrhage and bronchospasm. Chest radiography obtaining on postoperative day 1, arterial blood gas analysis as already mentioned and clinical findings such as respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, airway secretions, Visual analog scale of dyspnea will help to identify the presence or not of PCCs.

    Time frame: on postoperative day 1

  71. occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PCCs) on postoperative day 3

    Patients will be monitored for the occurrence of postoperative respiratory complications as defined by the European Society of Anaesthesiology, including aspiration pneumonitis, respiratory failure, ARDS, pulmonary infection, atelectasis, cardiopulmonary edema, pleural infusion, pneumothorax, pulmonary infiltrates, prolonged air leakage, purulent pleuritis, pulmonary embolism, lung hemorrhage and bronchospasm. Chest radiography obtaining on postoperative day 3 or earlier, arterial blood gas analysis as already mentioned and clinical findings such as respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, airway secretions, Visual analog scale of dyspnea will help to identify the presence or not of PCCs.

    Time frame: on postoperative day 3

Secondary outcomes

  1. long term kidney impairment

    serum and urine creatinine, serum urea, urine albumin and protein and consequently albumin to creatinine ratio and protein to creatinine ratio will be measured approximately 30 days postoperative, to asses long term renal dysfunction after VATS lobectomy.

    Time frame: from enrollment to day 30 approximately

  2. Noradrenaline equivalent dose

    Both groups maintained stable blood pressures with norepinephrine support as needed, but VExUS group showed more hemodynamic stability, concerning the measurements of cardiac output, cardiac index, stroke volume and stroke volume variation ( pulse contour analysis). As though, a larger noradrenaline amount as total dose and consequently, a bigger noradrenaline equivalent dose is expected to be given perioperatively in the control group of standard of care.

    Time frame: from the surgery onset to the discharge from the post anesthesia care unit

  3. Length of stay - Hospital Discharge

    Hospital length of stay will be reported in days.

    Time frame: From date of randomization (day before surgery) until the date of the discharge from the hospital

  4. intraoperative hypotension

    Intraoperative Hypotension (defined as MAP≤65mmHg or ≤80% of preoperative Baseline), with episodes lasting ≥1 minute. All patients will have a 5 minute preoperative MAP baseline, with measurements every 20 seconds. Intraoperative data will be compared to the mean preoperative 5 minute MPB baseline.

    Time frame: Baseline: 5 minutes prior to anaesthesia induction. Intraoperative Hypotension: From anesthesia induction, until the end of surgery

  5. hemodynamic stability: pulse contour analysis monitoring

    During the operation, a cardiac output monitor with waveform analysis will be used, providing calculations every 20 seconds for CO, CI, SV, SVI, SVV, SAP, DAP, MAP, and PR, without any decisions regarding fluid administration being made based on these measurements. In the control group, fluid administration will be fixed at 3 ml/kg/h, while in the VExUS group, fluid administration will be guided by the ultrasound protocol. Episodes of hypotension will be managed accordingly with the administration of vasoconstrictive drugs.These data will be used to compare the hemodynamic stability between the two groups.

    Time frame: Baseline: 5 minutes prior to anaesthesia induction.From anesthesia induction, until the end of surgery

  6. RBCs tranfusion, FFP transfusion, PLT tranfusion intraoperatively

    Concentrated RBC, FFP, PLT unit requirements. Data will be reported in ml.

    Time frame: From anesthesia induction, until the end of surgery

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Dharnidharka VR, Kwon C, Stevens G. Serum cystatin C is superior to serum creatinine as a marker of kidney function: a meta-analysis. Am J Kidney Dis. 2002 Aug;40(2):221-6. doi: 10.1053/ajkd.2002.34487. PubMed 12148093 ↗
  • 13. Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Acute Kidney Injury Work vexusGroup. KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for Acute Kidney Injury. Kidney inter., Suppl. 2012; 2: 1-138.
  • Jammer I, Wickboldt N, Sander M, Smith A, Schultz MJ, Pelosi P, Leva B, Rhodes A, Hoeft A, Walder B, Chew MS, Pearse RM; European Society of Anaesthesiology (ESA) and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM); European Society of Anaesthesiology; European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. Standards for definitions and use of outcome measures for clinical effectiveness research in perioperative medicine: European Perioperative Clinical Outcome (EPCO) definitions: a statement from the ESA-ESICM joint taskforce on perioperative outcome measures. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2015 Feb;32(2):88-105. doi: 10.1097/EJA.0000000000000118. PubMed 25058504 ↗
  • Longino A, Martin K, Leyba K, Siegel G, Gill E, Douglas IS, Burke J. Correlation between the VExUS score and right atrial pressure: a pilot prospective observational study. Crit Care. 2023 May 26;27(1):205. doi: 10.1186/s13054-023-04471-0. PubMed 37237315 ↗
  • Magin JC, Wrobel JR, An X, Acton J, Doyal A, Jia S, Krakowski JC, Schoenherr J, Serrano R, Flynn D, McLean D, Grant SA. Venous Excess Ultrasound (VExUS Grading to Assess Perioperative Fluid Status for Noncardiac Surgeries: a Prospective Observational Pilot Study. POCUS J. 2023 Nov 27;8(2):223-229. doi: 10.24908/pocus.v8i2.16792. eCollection 2023. PubMed 38099161 ↗
  • Beaubien-Souligny W, Rola P, Haycock K, Bouchard J, Lamarche Y, Spiegel R, Denault AY. Quantifying systemic congestion with Point-Of-Care ultrasound: development of the venous excess ultrasound grading system. Ultrasound J. 2020 Apr 9;12(1):16. doi: 10.1186/s13089-020-00163-w. PubMed 32270297 ↗
  • Romagnoli S, Ricci Z. Postoperative acute kidney injury. Minerva Anestesiol. 2015 Jun;81(6):684-96. Epub 2014 Jul 24. PubMed 25057935 ↗
  • Park M, Yoon S, Nam JS, Ahn HJ, Kim H, Kim HJ, Choi H, Kim HK, Blank RS, Yun SC, Lee DK, Yang M, Kim JA, Song I, Kim BR, Bahk JH, Kim J, Lee S, Choi IC, Oh YJ, Hwang W, Lim BG, Heo BY. Driving pressure-guided ventilation and postoperative pulmonary complications in thoracic surgery: a multicentre randomised clinical trial. Br J Anaesth. 2023 Jan;130(1):e106-e118. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2022.06.037. Epub 2022 Aug 20. PubMed 35995638 ↗
  • Lohser J, Slinger P. Lung Injury After One-Lung Ventilation: A Review of the Pathophysiologic Mechanisms Affecting the Ventilated and the Collapsed Lung. Anesth Analg. 2015 Aug;121(2):302-18. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000000808. PubMed 26197368 ↗
  • Arslantas MK, Kara HV, Tuncer BB, Yildizeli B, Yuksel M, Bostanci K, Bekiroglu N, Kararmaz A, Cinel I, Batirel HF. Effect of the amount of intraoperative fluid administration on postoperative pulmonary complications following anatomic lung resections. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2015 Jan;149(1):314-20, 321.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2014.08.071. Epub 2014 Sep 18. PubMed 25304302 ↗
  • Tarbell JM. Shear stress and the endothelial transport barrier. Cardiovasc Res. 2010 Jul 15;87(2):320-30. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvq146. Epub 2010 Jun 12. PubMed 20543206 ↗
  • Batchelor TJP, Rasburn NJ, Abdelnour-Berchtold E, Brunelli A, Cerfolio RJ, Gonzalez M, Ljungqvist O, Petersen RH, Popescu WM, Slinger PD, Naidu B. Guidelines for enhanced recovery after lung surgery: recommendations of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS(R)) Society and the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS). Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2019 Jan 1;55(1):91-115. doi: 10.1093/ejcts/ezy301. PubMed 30304509 ↗

Study documents

PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Started Nov 2024 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Nov 2028, 47 months after the start.

Of 249 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Acute Kidney Injury, half reached primary completion within 27 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 12 and three quarters within 44. This study's planned 47 months is above that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 267 studies reached it within 26 months; a quarter within 12 and three quarters within 44.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Nov 14, 2025
First posted
Dec 2, 2025
StartActual
Nov 27, 2024
Primary completionEst.
Nov 1, 2028
CompletionEst.
Nov 1, 2029
Last update
Dec 2, 2025
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Dec 2, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07258875
Lead sponsor
University of Crete
Responsible party
Alexandros Bogas (Alexandros Bogas Manouselis, University of Crete) — Principal investigator
First posted
Dec 2, 2025
Start date
Nov 27, 2024
Primary completion
Nov 1, 2028 (estimated)
Completion
Nov 1, 2029 (estimated)
Last update
Dec 2, 2025

Study contacts

Alexandros Bogas Manouselis, Resident of Anaesthesiology
Contact
bogas.alexandros@gmail.com
+306947545446
Alexandra Papaioannou, Professor of Anaesthesiology
study chair · Medical School, University of Crete

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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