Research trends and hotspots in the field of electrical impedance tomography for mechanical ventilation: a bibliometric analysis.

ABSTRACT

Background: Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a relatively recent functional imaging technique that is both noninvasive and radiation free. EIT measures the associated voltage when a weak current is applied to the surface of the human body to determine the distribution of electrical resistance within tissues. We performed a bibliometrics-based review to explore the geographic hotspots of current research and future trends developing in the field of EIT for mechanical ventilation. Methods: The Web of Science database was searched from its inception to June 25, 2023. CiteSpace software was used to visualize and analyze the relevant literature and identify the most impactful literature, trends, and hotspots. Results: 363 articles describing EIT use in mechanical ventilation were identified. A fluctuating growth in the number of publications was observed from 1998 to 2023. Germany had the highest number of articles (n=154), followed by Italy (n=53) and China (n=52). A cluster analysis of keyword co-occurrence revealed that "titration", "ventilator-related lung injury", and "oxygenation" were the most actively researched terms associated with the use of EIT in mechanically ventilated patients. Conclusions: Significant progress has been made in EIT research for mechanical ventilation. EIT research is limited to a small number of countries with a present research focus on the prevention and treatment of ventilator-related lung injury, oxygenation status, and prone ventilation. These topics are expected to remain research hotspots in the future.