Differential ventilation in bilateral lung disease

General anaesthesia and many types of acute respiratory failure are accompanied by a decrease in functional residual capacity (FRC). This reduction promotes closure of dependent airways and alveolar collapse, thus impeding ventilation of these regions. Perfusion, on the other hand, is forced towards dependent regions by lowered pulmonary vascular pressure and increased alveolar pressure. Ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) inequality develops, impairing gas exchange and arterial oxygenation. Application of general positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) increases FRC and may improve gas exchange but cannot restore V/Q to normal. Differential ventilation, with equal distribution of ventilation between the lungs, and the application of PEEP solely to the dependent lung (selective PEEP) with the patient in the lateral position, improve V/Q matching and gas exchange with less impedance of cardiac output and less danger of barotrauma. This ventilation technique has proved successful in short-term experiments and in a small number of patients treated over several days.     

Set positive end-expiratory pressure during protective ventilation affects lung injury

BACKGROUND: The most appropriate method of determining positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) level during a lung protective ventilatory strategy has not been established. METHODS: In a lavage-injured sheep acute respiratory distress syndrome model, the authors compared the effects of three approaches to determining PEEP level after a recruitment maneuver: (1) 2 cm H(2)O above the lower inflection point on the inflation pressure-volume curve, (2) at the point of maximum curvature on the deflation pressure-volume curve, and (3) at the PEEP level that maintained target arterial oxygen partial pressure at a fraction of inspired oxygen of 0.5. RESULTS: Positive end-expiratory pressure set 2 cm H(2)O above the lower inflection point resulted in the least injury over the course of the study. PEEP based on adequate arterial oxygen partial pressure/fraction of inspired oxygen ratios had to be increased over time and resulted in higher mRNA levels for interleukin-8 and interleukin-1beta and greater tissue inflammation when compared with the other approaches. PEEP at the point of maximum curvature could not maintain eucapneia even at an increased ventilatory rate. CONCLUSION: Although generating higher plateau pressures, PEEP levels based on pressure-volume curve analysis were more effective in maintaining gas exchange and minimizing injury than PEEP based on adequate oxygenation. PEEP at 2 cm H(2)O above the lower inflection point was most effective.     

Mechanics of ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure.

The effect of graded increments in positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) and shunt fraction (Qs/QT), oxygen delivery, and respiratory mechanics and work required to ventilate 8 critically ill patients is reported. The work required to ventilate the patients increases markedly with the application and progressive increase in the level of PEEP. However, improvement in lung mechanics lowers the net work of ventilating the lungs. At 20 cm H2O PEEP, the mean value for the work of ventilation in this group of patients is twice the mean value without PEEP. The increase in work of ventilation with PEEP is critical in the use of PEEP when patients are breathing spontaneously with or without intermittent mandatory ventilation.     

Immediate effects of positive end-expiratory pressure and low and high tidal volume ventilation upon gas exchange and compliance in patients with acute lung injury.

BACKGROUND: Protective ventilation, in general, includes low tidal volume ventilation and maintaining end-inspiratory plateau pressures less than 35 cmH2O. Recent clinical studies have determined that such an approach results in improved survival in patients with moderate to severe acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, experimental evidence suggests that repeated end-expiratory collapse and reexpansion contributes to ventilator-induced lung injury. We sought to determine the immediate effects of specific tidal volume-PEEP combinations upon oxygenation and static compliance in patients with moderate to severe acute lung injury. METHODS: Fourteen patients were prospectively studied and were treated with each of 10 tidal volume-PEEP combinations, applied in random order. After 5 minutes at each tidal volume-PEEP combination, PaO2/FIO2 and static compliance were recorded. Comparisons were made between low and high tidal volume ventilation as well as across five PEEP levels. RESULTS: At both low (6 mL/kg) and high (10 mL/kg) tidal volume ventilation, PaO2/FIO2 increased with increasing PEEP, up to 20 cmH2O. Similar changes in static compliance were not evident. Static compliance was highest at PEEP of 10 and 15 cmH2O, regardless of tidal volume. With PEEP set at 5 cmH2O, static compliance was significantly lower with 6 mL/kg than with 10 mL/kg tidal volumes. Overall, static compliance was lowest for both tidal volume conditions with PEEP set at 25 cmH2O. CONCLUSION: Low tidal volume ventilation with PEEP set at 5 cmH2O results in poor oxygenation and compliance in patients with moderate to severe acute lung injury. Similarly, PEEP set at 25 cmH2O did not improve oxygenation or compliance.     

间歇正压通气和呼气末正压通气对犬眼内压的影响

目的 探讨间歇正压通气(IPPV)和呼气末正压通气(PEEP)对犬眼内压(10P)的影响.方法 实验犬8只,麻醉后分别监测基础条件下和各种机械通气条件下的IOP、CVP、MAP.结果 实施20 ml/kg和30 ml/kg两种不同潮气量的IPPV时IOP差异无统计学意义.实施10、15、20cm H20三种不同压力值的PEEP时IOP均显著升高(P<0.01).结论 IPPV对IOP影响不大,PEEP可使IOP显著升高.     

Clinical application of differential ventilation with selective positive end-expiratory pressure in adult respiratory distress syndrome

Differential ventilation in the lateral position with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) selectively applied to the dependent lung (DVSP) has been shown to reduce venous admixture and improve oxygenation without compromizing cardiac output in short term studies of patients with acute respiratory failure. We have applied this ventilation technique as a long-term treatment in severe adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in an open clinical trial. Eleven patients with ARDS of varying aetiology were treated with DVSP for a total of 34 days.
Median duration of conventional ventilatory therapy before start of DVSP was 5 days (1 to 18 days), inspiratory oxygen fraction (F₁***₂) was 0.61 ±0.16 (mean±s.d.), resulting in a mean arterial oxygen tension (Pao₂) of 7.1±2.1 kPa (Pao₂/F₁o₂= 11 ± 4 kPa). A gradual improvement in gas exchange was seen during the first 24 h of DVSP such that Pao₂ increased to 8.4±1.4 with a decreased F₁o₂ (0.52±0.14) resulting in an increased Pao₂/F₁o₂ (16±5 kPa). Five out of the eleven patients survived. No major complication was noted using DVSP as a method. We found a steady improvement in gas exchange over the first 24 hours in most patients. However, mortality rate was no lower than expected. Drawbacks with DVSP were increased demand on staff and difficulties with adequate endo-bronchial suctioning.     

Mechanical ventilation with lower tidal volumes and positive end-expiratory pressure prevents alveolar coagulation in patients without lung injury

BACKGROUND: Alveolar fibrin deposition is a hallmark of acute lung injury, resulting from activation of coagulation and inhibition of fibrinolysis. Previous studies have shown that mechanical ventilation with high tidal volumes may aggravate lung injury in patients with sepsis and acute lung injury. The authors sought to determine the effects of mechanical ventilation on the alveolar hemostatic balance in patients without preexistent lung injury. METHODS: Patients scheduled for an elective surgical procedure (lasting > or = 5 h) were randomly assigned to mechanical ventilation with either higher tidal volumes of 12 ml/kg ideal body weight and no positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) or lower tidal volumes of 6 ml/kg and 10 cm H2O PEEP. After induction of anesthesia and 5 h later bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and blood samples were obtained, and markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis were measured. RESULTS: In contrast to mechanical ventilation with lower tidal volumes and PEEP (n = 21), the use of higher tidal volumes without PEEP (n = 19) caused activation of bronchoalveolar coagulation, as reflected by a marked increase in thrombin-antithrombin complexes, soluble tissue factor, and factor VIIa after 5 h of mechanical ventilation. Mechanical ventilation with higher tidal volumes without PEEP caused an increase in soluble thrombomodulin in lavage fluids and lower levels of bronchoalveolar activated protein C in comparison with lower tidal volumes and PEEP. Bronchoalveolar fibrinolytic activity did not change by either ventilation strategy. CONCLUSIONS: Mechanical ventilation with higher tidal volumes and no PEEP promotes procoagulant changes, which are largely prevented by the use of lower tidal volumes and PEEP.     

The effect of positive end-expiratory pressure ventilation on atrial filling

As a measure of atrial filling, left and right auricular diameter and free wall segment length were recorded by sonomicrometry during incremental positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in eight acutely instrumented closed chest dogs. The effect of PEEP was assessed with the pericardium open (n = 6) and closed (n = 8). On both occasions, PEEP decreased left auricular diameter (P less than 0.05). PEEP also caused a reduction in right auricular diameter with the pericardium open (P less than 0.05), while the variable was unchanged with the pericardium closed. PEEP did not cause any changes in either left or right free wall segment lengths. Both left and right auricular pressure-diameter relationships were progressively shifted leftwards with incremental PEEP. These observations suggest that PEEP may reduce left ventricular output not only by interfering with passive ventricular filling, but also by reducing atrial dimensions.     

Combined effects of inhaled nitric oxide and positive end-expiratory pressure during mechanical ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome

We studied the combined effects of inhaled nitric oxide (INO) and positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) during mechanical ventilation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Eleven patients received 0 and 4 parts per million of INO in random order for 30 min at PEEP levels of 0, 5, and 10 cm H2O. Respiratory and cardiovascular parameters were measured. The addition of INO and PEEP significantly improved arterial oxygenation (p < 0.005 and p < 0.0001, respectively). The combined effect of INO and PEEP on arterial oxygenation was remarkable during 10 cm H2O PEEP. There was synergistic effect on arterial oxygenation by combining INO and 10 cm H2O PEEP. The present study showed that the combination of INO and 10 cm H2O PEEP enhanced arterial oxygenation in patients with ARDS.     

Hemodynamic effects of positive end-expiratory pressure during partial liquid ventilation in newborn lambs

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) application on hemodynamics, lung mechanics, and oxygenation in the intact newborn lung during conventional ventilation (CV) and partial liquid ventilation (PLV) at functional residual capacity (FRC). CV or PLV modes of ventilation do not affect hemodynamics nor the optimum PEEP for oxygenation. METHODS: Seven newborn lambs (1 to 3 days old) were instrumented to measure pulmonary hemodynamics and airway mechanics. Each lamb was used as their own control to compare different modes of ventilation (CV followed by PLV) under graded variations of PEEP (4, 8, 12, and 16 cm H(2)O) on the influence on pulmonary blood flow and pulmonary vascular resistance. RESULTS: There was a significant drop in pulmonary blood flow (PBF) from baseline (PEEP of 4 cm H(2)O on CV, 1,229 +/- 377 mL/min) in both modes of ventilation on a PEEP of 16 cm H(2)O (CV, 750 +/- 318 mL/min v PLV, 926 +/- 396 mL/min, respectively; P <.05). Peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) was higher on PLV at PEEP states of 4 cm H(2)O (16.5 +/- 1.3 cm H(2)O to 10.6 +/- 2.1 cm H(2)O; P <.05) and 8 cm H(2)O (18.8 +/- 2.2 cm H(2)O to 15.1 +/- 2.6 cm H(2)O; P <.05) when compared with CV. Conversely, PIP required to maintain the pCO(2) was lower on PLV at PEEP states of 12 (22.5 +/- 3.6 cm H(2)O to 24.2 +/- 3.8 cm H(2)O; P <.05) and 16 cm H(2)O (27.0 +/- 1.6 cm H(2)O to 34.0 +/- 5.9 cm H(2)O; P <.05). CONCLUSIONS: Hemodynamically, CO is impaired at a PEEP above 12 cm H(2)O in intact lungs. PFC at FRC does provide an advantage in lung mechanics more than 10 to 12 cm H(2)O of PEEP by decreasing the amount PIP needed to achieve the similar levels of gas exchange and minute ventilation, implying a reduced risk for barotrauma with chronic ventilation. Thus, selection of the appropriate level of PEEP appears to be important if PLV is to be utilized at FRC. The best strategy for PLV, including the selection of PEEP, remains to be determined.     

Respiratory distress syndrome and its treatment with high positive end-expiratory pressure ventilation

In a 25-month period, nine patients developed a severe, rapidly progressive respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and did not respond adequately to conventional respiratory therapy despite the application of positive end-expiratory pressure ventilation (PEEP) up to an upper limit of 15 cm H2O. Treatment with high PEEP was instituted up to 35 cm H2O, in order to achieve a PaO2 higher than 70 mmHg. Massive infusion of electrolyte solutions, colloids and red blood cells were necessary to maintain an adequate circulation that could be monitored by simple parameters such as arterial blood pressure, peripheral skin temperature and urine production. Seven patients (78%) survived. Sepsis was the cause of death in two patients. There were no pulmonary functional or radiological abnormalities, one to 14 months after discharge from the hospital. The upper limit for PEEP should be abandoned and PEEP should be administered according to the needs of each individual patient. As an adequate oxygenation can always be achieved with high-PEEP ventilation, in surgical patients there is hardly, if ever, an indication for ECMO.     

Surfactant impairment after mechanical ventilation with large alveolar surface area changes and effects of positive end-expiratory pressure

We have assessed the effects of overinflation on surfactant function and composition in rats undergoing ventilation for 20 min with 100% oxygen at a peak inspiratory pressure of 45 cm H2O, with or without PEEP 10 cm H2O (groups 45/10 and 45/0, respectively). Mean tidal volumes were 48.4 (SEM 0.3) ml kg-1 in group 45/0 and 18.3 (0.1) ml kg- 1 in group 45/10. Arterial oxygenation in group 45/0 was reduced after 20 min compared with group 45/10 (305 (71) vs 564 (10) mm Hg); maximal compliance of the P-V curve was decreased (2.09 (0.13) vs 4.16 (0.35) ml cm H2O-1 kg-1); total lung volume at a transpulmonary pressure of 5 cm H2O was reduced (6.5 (1.0) vs 18.8 (1.4) ml kg-1) and the Gruenwald index was less (0.22 (0.02) vs 0.40 (0.05)). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from the group of animals who underwent ventilation without PEEP had a greater protein concentration (2.18 (0.11) vs 0.76 (0.22) mg ml- 1) and a greater minimal surface tension (37.2 (6.3) vs 24.5 (2.8) mN m- 1) than in those who underwent ventilation with PEEP. Group 45/0 had an increase in non-active to active total phosphorus compared with nonventilated controls (0.90 (0.16) vs 0.30 (0.07)). We conclude that ventilation in healthy rats with peak inspiratory pressures of 45 cm H2O without PEEP for 20 min caused severe impairment of pulmonary surfactant composition and function which can be prevented by the use of PEEP 10 cm H2O.      

Mechanical ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure preserves arterial oxygenation during prolonged pneumoperitoneum

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery usually requires a pneumoperitoneum by insufflating the abdominal cavity with carbon dioxide (CO2). Increased intraabdominal pressure causes diaphragmatic displacement resulting in compressed lung areas, which leads to formation of atelectasis, especially during mechanical ventilation. Application of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) can maintain pulmonary gas exchange. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of abdominal gas insufflation on arterial oxygenation during mechanical ventilation with and without PEEP in rats. METHODS: In experiment 1, two groups of six rats were continuously insufflated with CO2 at 12 mmHg for 180 min. Group 1 was ventilated with 8 cm H2O PEEP and group 2 had 0 cm H2O PEEP. Group 3 served as a control. This group had abdominal wall lifting and was ventilated with 0 cmH2O PEEP. In experiment 2, two groups of six rats had abdominal CO2 insufflation and were ventilated with or without PEEP during 180 min (group 4 and 5). In this experiment, abdomens were desufflated in both groups for 5 min at 60 and 120 min. Blood pressure monitoring and measurement of arterial pO2 was performed by placement of an indwelling carotid artery catheter in both experiments. RESULTS: In both experiments, paO2 values decreased significantly in insufflation groups that were ventilated with 0 cmH2O PEEP (groups 2 and 5). Insufflation groups ventilated with 8 cmH2O PEEP had paO2 values comparable to these of control group. There were no significant differences in mean arterial pressure between insufflation groups ventilated with or without PEEP. CONCLUSION: PEEP preserves arterial oxygenation during prolonged pneumoperitoneum in rats with minimal adverse hemodynamic effects.     

Autocycling and increase in intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure during mechanical ventilation

Modern ventilators are complicated electronic instruments with microprocessors and software, with the possibility of technical errors and problems such as autocycling. Despite autocycling being recognized as a problem in textbooks and reviews, there are few reports about autocycling in the literature. We report a case where a sudden increase in respiratory frequency due to autocycling resulted in a dangerous increase in intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (intrinsic PEEP, PEEPi). We think our case illustrates that autocycling does occur, but that the exact underlying mechanism may be hard to document and understand for clinicians. To remedy this situation, we suggest that manufacture-independent technical expertise should be established to evaluate incidents and suggest improvements.     

肥胖患者腹腔镜结直肠癌根治术中实时食管压监测下呼气末正压通气对肺通气的影响

目的探讨实时食管压监测指导下设定呼气末正压(positive end expiratory pressure,PEEP)通气参数对肥胖腹腔镜结直肠癌根治术患者的临床价值。方法选择2016年1—12月收治的拟行腹腔镜结直肠癌根治术的肥胖患者90例,男50例,女40例,年龄40~65岁,BMI30kg/m2,ASAⅡ或Ⅲ级,采用随机数字表法将患者随机分为三组:P组、PEEP5组和PEEP10组,设置VT8ml/kg,分别在肺复张后给予个体化PEEP(采用实时食管压监测通过计算呼气末跨肺压=0cmH_2O和吸气末跨肺压=25cmH_2O确定最佳PEEP)、PEEP 5cmH_2O和10cmH_2O。观察气腹建立前(T0)、气腹建立后10min(T1)、气腹后头低40.5°足高位20 min(T2)和气腹结束(T3)时的呼吸力学指标。结果T1—T3时P组Ppeak、SBP明显低于,PaO_2/FiO_2明显高于PEEP5组和PEEP10组(P0.05);T2时P组Pplat、Raw明显低于PEEP5组(P0.05);T2、T3时P组Cst明显高于PEEP5组(P0.05);T1、T2时P组DBP明显低于PEEP5组和PEEP10组(P0.05)。结论实时食管压监测应用于PEEP通气的肥胖腹腔镜结肠癌手术患者,能够有效改善患者呼吸和循环功能。