Electrical impedance tomography and its applicability in respiratory support in neonatal intensive care units: a protocol for a scoping review - Critical Care Science (CCS)

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

The neonatal intensive care unit employs advanced technologies to manage critical conditions. Electrical impedance tomography is a noninvasive, radiation-free imaging technique that provides real-time monitoring of pulmonary ventilation. The literature on electrical impedance tomography in the neonatal population is scattered and heterogeneous, justifying a scoping review.

Objective:

To map and synthesize the available evidence on the applicability of electrical impedance tomography in neonates receiving respiratory support in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Methods:

This protocol follows the steps described by Arksey and O’Malley as well as the recommendations of PRISMA-ScR and the Joanna Briggs Institute Manual for scoping reviews. The following databases will be used to guide searches: PubMed®, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane, with no date restrictions, in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Two independent reviewers will screen, extract data, and assess the quality of eligible studies.

Ethics and dissemination:

Ethics approval is not required for this protocol and scoping review, as the study will rely exclusively on data from previously published research that has already obtained ethical approval. The results will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Supplementary Material