Time required for gas exchange equilibration after a change of positive end-expiratory pressure in acute respiratory distress syndrome

Background In patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the ventilatory approach is based on tidal volume (VT) of 10-15 ml/kg and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). To avoid further pulmonary injury, decreasing VT and allowing PaCO2 to increase (permissive hypercapnia) has been suggested. Effects of 10 cmH2O of PEEP on respiratory mechanics, hemodynamics, and gas exchange were compared during mechanical ventilation with conventional (10-15 ml/kg) and low (5-8 ml/kg) VT. Methods Nine sedated and paralyzed patients were studied. VT was decreased gradually (50 ml every 20-30 min). Static volume-pressure (V-P) curves, hemodynamics, and gas exchange were measured. Results During mechanical ventilation with conventional VT, V-P curves on PEEP 0 (ZEEP) exhibited an upward convexity in six patients reflecting a progressive reduction in compliance with inflating volume, whereas PEEP resulted in a volume displacement along the flat part of this curve. After VT reduction, V-P curves in the same patients showed an upward concavity, reflecting progressive alveolar recruitment with inflating volume, and application of PEEP resulted in alveolar recruitment. The other three patients showed a V-P curve with an upward concavity; VT reduction increased this concavity, and application of PEEP induced greater alveolar recruitment than during conventional VT. With PEEP, cardiac index decreased by, respectively, 31% during conventional VT and 11% during low VT (P < 0.01); PaO2 increased by 32% and 71% (P < 0.01), respectively, whereas right-to-left venous admixture (Qs/Qt) decreased by 11% and 40%, respectively (P < 0.01). The greatest values of PaO2, static compliance, and oxygen delivery and the lowest values of Qs/Qt (best PEEP) were obtained during application of PEEP with low VT (P < 0.01). Conclusions Although PEEP induced alveolar hyperinflation in most patients during mechanical ventilation with conventional VT, at low VT, there appeared to be a significant alveolar collapse, and PEEP was able to expand these units, improving gas exchange and hemodynamics.

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Effects of Inverse Ratio Ventilation versus Positive End-expiratory Pressure on Gas Exchange and Gastric Intramucosal Pco2and pH under Constant Mean Airway Pressure in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Anesthesiology ◽

10.1097/00000542-200111000-00023 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 95 (5) ◽

pp. 1182-1188 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Chung-Chi Huang ◽

Mei-Ju Shih ◽

Ying-Huang Tsai ◽

Yu-Chen Chang ◽

Thomas C. Y. Tsao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽

Gas Exchange ◽

Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽

Respiratory Distress ◽

Airway Pressure ◽

Distress Syndrome ◽

Positive End Expiratory Pressure ◽

Mean Airway Pressure ◽

Inverse Ratio Ventilation ◽

Pressure Controlled

Background In patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, whether inverse ratio ventilation differs from high positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) for gas exchange under a similar mean airway pressure has not been adequately examined. The authors used arterial oxygenation, gastric intramucosal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PiCO(2)), and pH (pHi) to assess whether pressure-controlled inverse ratio ventilation (PC-IRV) offers more benefits than pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) with PEEP. Methods Seventeen acute respiratory distress syndrome patients were enrolled and underwent mechanical ventilation with a PCV inspiratory-to-expiratory ratio of 1:2, followed by PC-IRV 1:1 initially. Then, they were randomly assigned to receive PC-IRV 2:1, then 4:1 or 4:1, and then 2:1, alternately. The baseline setting of PCV 1:2 was repeated between the settings of PC-IRV 2:1 and 4:1. Mean airway pressure and tidal volume were kept constant by adjusting the levels of peak inspiratory pressure and applied PEEP. In each ventilatory mode, hemodynamics, pulmonary mechanics, arterial and mixed venous blood gas analysis, PiCO(2), and pHi were measured after a 1-h period of stabilization. Results With a constant mean airway pressure, PC-IRV 2:1 and 4:1 decreased arterial and mixed venous oxygenation as compared with baseline PCV 1:2. Neither the global oxygenation indices with oxygen delivery and uptake nor PiCO(2) and pHi were improved by PC-IRV. During PC-IRV, applied PEEP was lower, and auto-PEEP was higher. Conclusion When substituting inverse ratio ventilation for applied PEEP to keep mean airway pressure constant, PC-IRV does not contribute more to better gas exchange and gastric intramucosal PiCO(2) and pHi than does PCV 1:2 for acute respiratory distress syndrome patients, regardless of the inspiratory-to-expiratory ratios.

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