RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

PEEP vs. ZEEP in Out-of-Hospital-Cardiac-Arrest

Imagine someone's heart unexpectedly stops beating outside of a hospital, which doctors call an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. This is a very serious emergency, and survival rates can be low. When paramedics help these patients, they often use special machines to help them breathe. This study wants to find out the best way to set these breathing machines. Specifically, they are comparing two different settings: 'PEEP 5' and 'ZEEP 0'. The main goal is to see if one setting helps more people's hearts start beating on their own again. This research is important because it could help improve how we treat people during this critical time.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Muehlenkreiskliniken, MKK

Enrolment target

600

Start

01 Jun 2025

Estimated completion

31 Oct 2026

Ventilation Therapy PEEP, Occult CPR Cardiac Arrest (CA)

What is this study about?

When someone has a sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital, it means their heart has stopped pumping blood around their body. This is a life-threatening emergency. Paramedics and other emergency medical staff work very hard to try and get the heart beating again, often by doing CPR (chest compressions) and using machines to help the patient breathe.

This study is looking at the 'breathing machine' part of this care. When someone is on a breathing machine, there are different ways to set it. The researchers are comparing two specific settings: one called 'PEEP 5' and another called 'ZEEP 0'. Think of it like adjusting the settings on a fan – different settings might work better or worse in different situations. The doctors want to find out if one of these breathing machine settings helps more people's hearts to start beating again on their own (what doctors call 'return of spontaneous circulation').

This research is important because if they find a better way to use these breathing machines, it could help more people survive a cardiac arrest and lead to better health outcomes overall. They are conducting this study across several emergency services in Germany to gather enough information to reliably see if there's a difference between the two breathing machine settings.

Key takeaways

Sudden heart stoppages (cardiac arrest) outside hospital are very serious.
This study compares two breathing machine settings (PEEP 5 vs. ZEEP 0) during emergency care.
The main goal is to see if one setting helps the heart start beating again more often.
It could help improve care for future patients facing this emergency.
Participation decisions are made by emergency medical staff during a critical event.
No extra visits or treatments are involved beyond standard emergency care.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for adults aged 18 years and older who have had a sudden heart stoppage (cardiac arrest) outside of a hospital. To be included, their heart stoppage must not have been caused by a serious injury, like a car accident or a fall. Also, they need to be receiving help with breathing through a special device, like a tube in their windpipe, from the emergency services.

You would not be able to participate if you are under 18 years old, or if your heart stopped due to a traumatic injury. Also, if medical staff determine that nothing more can be done to restart your heart (for example, if a 'Do Not Resuscitate' order is in place), then you would also not be part of this study.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Did your heart stop outside of a hospital?
Was your heart stoppage NOT caused by a major injury?
Are you receiving help to breathe from emergency services via a special device?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

As this study involves patients who have had an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, decisions about participation will be made by the emergency medical teams at the scene. Patients will not be able to choose to take part themselves. If a patient is enrolled, the emergency medical team will set the breathing machine to either the 'PEEP 5' or the 'ZEEP 0' setting, based on a random decision for their area. The emergency staff will then carefully monitor the patient's condition, including whether their heart starts beating again, oxygen levels, and other vital signs, as they would normally do during this emergency. There are no extra visits or follow-up appointments specifically for the study that patients would need to attend. The involvement in the study effectively ends with the immediate emergency care and transport to the hospital, where standard medical care takes over.

Potential risks and benefits

The potential benefit of this study is that it might help identify a better way to use breathing machines during a cardiac arrest, which could lead to improved survival and recovery for future patients. For patients taking part in the study, there are no expected additional risks beyond the critical situation they are already in, as both breathing machine settings being tested are part of standard medical practice in some form. The medical teams will always act in the patient's best interest. You have the right to withdraw from any study at any time, but in this specific emergency setting, decisions about care are made by the attending medical professionals.

Locations (3)

Emergency Medical Services
Verified postcode
Gütersloh, Germany· Recruiting
JWK Minden
Verified postcode
Minden, Germany· Recruiting
Emergency Medical Services
Verified postcode
Osnabrück, Germany· Recruiting

Common questions

What is an 'out-of-hospital cardiac arrest'?

It means someone's heart has suddenly stopped beating outside of a hospital setting, requiring immediate emergency help.

What is a 'breathing machine' in this context?

It's a device used by paramedics to help patients breathe when their own breathing is not strong enough, often used with a tube that helps air get into the lungs.

What do 'PEEP' and 'ZEEP' mean?

These are simply different settings on the breathing machine that affect how much pressure is left in the lungs at the end of each breath. The study is comparing two specific levels.

Will I know if my loved one is in the study?

Due to the emergency nature, consent cannot be obtained beforehand. However, a doctor or research team member may provide information about the study to family members afterwards, if appropriate.

Are these breathing machine settings safe?

Yes, both PEEP and ZEEP are medical terms for different ways breathing machines can be set, and both are used in medical practice. The study aims to find out which is more effective in this specific emergency.

How to find out more

Gerrit Jansen, PD Dr. med.

gerrit.jansen@muehlenkreiskliniken.de +49 571-790-54401 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.