Zapping breathing muscles may speed ventilator weaning

NCT ID NCT07199036

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Capital Medical University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Aug 12, 2026 · Updated 5 times

Summary

This completed trial tested whether electrical stimulation of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles helps patients who have been on a breathing machine for a long time to breathe on their own sooner. 300 adults who had been on a ventilator for at least 21 days received either real stimulation, sham stimulation, or both, along with standard care. The main goal was to see how many days it took to successfully wean off the ventilator.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: electrical stimulation of breathing muscles (TEDS and abFES)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could help patients who struggle to breathe on their own get off ventilators sooner, reducing complications and hospital stays.
What could go wrong: This is a completed trial, but results are not yet widely confirmed. The effect may be small or not apply to all patients. Electrical stimulation may cause discomfort or skin irritation.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

MECHANICAL VENTILATION

Contacts and locations

Locations

Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, Capital Medical University

Beijing, Shijingshan District, 100144, China

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