New lung-saving strategy aims to cut deadly ARDS complications

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Intubation and Invasive mechanical ventilation ≤ 7 days 2. Presence of all of the following conditions for ≤48 hours: * 80 ≤ PaO2/FiO2 ≤300 with PEEP \>5 cmH2O * Bilateral opacities not fully explained by effusions, lobar/lung collapse, or nodules * Respiratory failure not fully explained by cardiac failure or fluid overload 3. One of the following criteria (with Vt set at 6 mL/kg PBW): * DeltaP ≥15 cm H2O OR * Ventilatory ratio ≥2.2 4. Signed Informed consent from a close relative or surrogate or a family member. According to the specifications of emergency inclusion, randomization without the close relative/surrogate consent could be performed if the patient is unable to give his/ger consent and when the close relative/surrogate/family member are absent. Close relative/surrogate/family member consent will be asked as soon as possible after randomization. The patient will be asked as soon as possible to give his/her consent for the continuation of the trial when his/her condition will allow. 5. Social security registration (AME excluded) Exclusion Criteria: 1. Age \<18 years 2. Pregnancy or breastfeeding 3. Catheter access to femoral vein or jugular vein impossible 4. Expected duration of mechanical ventilation \< 48 hours 5. Chronic restrictive or obstructive (COPD) respiratory insufficiency with home ventilation or oxygen therapy 6. Currently receiving ECLS therapy 7. Severe cardiac failure or ongoing acute coronary syndrome 8. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia 9. Severe underlying pre-existing condition with expected six-month mortality \>50% 10. Contraindication for systemic anticoagulation (including platelet count \<50G/L) 11. Patient moribund, decision to limit therapeutic interventions 12. Acute brain injury or irreversible neurological pathology 13. Bone marrow transplantation within the last 1 year 14. Actual body weight exceeding 1 kg per centimeter of height 15. Prior enrolment in the trial