Can a common anesthetic gas help ARDS patients breathe easier?

NCT ID NCT02166853

Completed Disease control Sponsor: University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether inhaling sevoflurane, a gas usually used for anesthesia, for the first 48 hours could improve oxygen levels and reduce inflammation in 50 adults with moderate to severe ARDS. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either sevoflurane or a standard sedative (midazolam). The main goal was to see if sevoflurane could improve gas exchange in the lungs.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: sevoflurane
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a new sedation method that also helps ARDS patients breathe better and reduces lung inflammation.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase study with only 50 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The drug is already used for sedation, but its specific benefit for ARDS is unproven.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

acute respiratory distress syndrome adult acute respiratory distress syndrome Inflammation Lung Injury

As listed by the trial registrant

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

ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME

Contacts and locations

Locations

CHU Clermont-Ferrand

Clermont-Ferrand, 63003, France

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