Recent advances in experimental and clinical applications of chest electrical impedance tomography: a narrative review

Authors: Inéz Frerichs, Gaetano Scaramuzzo, Annemijn Jonkman

Resume: In this narrative review, the authors underscore the increasing maturity of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) technology, alongside the rising clinical demand for functional imaging, which has accelerated research into its medical applications. Recently, EIT has evolved from predominantly experimental settings to standard clinical practice, particularly for mechanically ventilated patients during perioperative and intensive care. Contemporary research encompasses patients across all age groups, underscoring the growing significance of chest EIT in contemporary clinical practice.

The review also highlights the increasing importance of chest EIT in real-time monitoring of regional lung and heart functions, aiding in the early detection of complications such as pneumothorax, alveolar overdistension, collapse, and pulmonary embolism. It also supports personalised treatment strategies, including ventilator adjustments, patient positioning, and physical therapy. By integrating recent experimental and clinical advancements, the publication outlines the current key topics in EIT research and describes the technological and clinical developments still needed to support the widespread use of chest EIT in routine patient care.