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Operating theatre ventilation standards and the risk of postoperative infection.

Some form of specialized ventilation has been a feature of operating theatres for over 60 years, and ultraclean ventilation has been shown to reduce postoperative infection after prosthetic joint surgery. However, controversy remains over the contribution of plenum (conventional) ventilation to the prevention of infection after surgery in which there is no prosthetic implant. A previous survey in Great Britain and Ireland indicated the continued use of non-ventilated theatres for minor surgery. Laparoscopic and other forms of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) have become more common in the last decade, and offer the advantages of reduced morbidity and shorter hospital stay. However, it is not clear whether such surgery requires the same standard of ventilation facilities as open surgery and, in particular, whether all MIS procedures should be performed in a plenum-ventilated theatre. Furthermore, there are many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures currently performed in cardiac and radiology departments where only natural ventilation is available. The Hospital Infection Society (HIS) Working Party on Infection Control and Operating Theatres is attempting to assess the ventilation facilities currently utilized for a wide variety of MIS procedures. This review should form the basis of future HIS guidance on minimum standards in this area.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗

[Mechanical interaction between patient and ventilator in biphasic positive airway pressure (BIPAP)--digital and mechanical simulations].

OBJECTIVE: Biphasic Positive Airway Pressure (BIPAP) and the closely related Airway Pressure Release Ventilation (APRV) are characterised by asynchronous actions of ventilator and patient. Clinical observation and physiological reasoning suggest, that in BIPAP patient and ventilator can interact in various ways. This study was to elucidate the mechanical interaction. METHODS: Ventilation and interaction between patient and ventilator were analysed in digital and mechanical simulations of BIPAP with a variety of patient effort magnitudes and durations, machine pressures and phase durations, and passive respiratory system (RS) mechanics. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Patient efforts were most likely to effect a breath if they were strong relative to the machine pressure swing, and if they occurred late in a ventilator phase. Conversely, efforts occurring with or shortly after a machine pressure swing or relatively weak efforts were more or less ineffective. The postulated permanently unrestricted spontaneous breathing in BlPAP mode, although indeed assured in the technical sense, has to be qualified: Every change in machine pressure defines a new balance of the forces driving the RS, and the lung volume will approach a new elastic equilibrium volume ( = relaxation volume); the speed of this approach is determined by the time constant (tau = R x C) of the RS. Patient efforts are most effective when the RS is at or close to an equilibrium. An increase in the assisting machine pressure swing can unload the patient and assure a minimum ventilation, but it reduces the patient"s influence on ventilation and thus potentially patient comfort. In contrast, Automatic Tube Compensation (ATC), an assist component accelerating the RS by reducing resistances, combines unloading with more patient influence; this has to be weighed against the potential disadvantage of higher peak flows.

Air Pressure↗

[Withdrawal from the respirator (weaning) in long-term ventilation. The results in patients in a weaning center].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Patients subjected to an increased load and with a decreased capacity of their respiratory muscles may be difficult to wean from mechanical ventilation. Using a weaning strategy with a focus on unloading respiratory muscles may be successful even after long-term mechanical ventilation. In a prospective uncontrolled study, we examined the outcome of our weaning protocol. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Under prolonged mechanical ventilation in outlying intensive care units (44.3 +/- 38.1 days) 232 patients (64.8 +/- 12.7 years, 149 males, 83 females) with the following underlying diagnoses were investigated: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (54.3%), neuromuscular diseases (16%), thoracic restriction (10.8%), chronic left heart failure (7.3%), postsurgical ventilatory failure (6.9%) and miscellaneous conditions (4.7%). Our weaning strategy was focused on type of mechanical ventilation, endotracheal tubes, non-invasive interface, oxygen supply and transport capacity, body position and home mechanical ventilation, if an increased load or a decreased capacity of the respiratory muscles remained after weaning. RESULTS: Altogether 65% of the patients (n = 152) were weaned in a mean duration of 7.5 days. Intermittent home mechanical ventilation followed in 45 patients (19.4%). In our hospital died 64 patients (27.6%). After a stay of 19.7 +/- 12.2 days in our hospital 72.4% of the patients (n = 168) were discharged. The postdischarge 3-month mortality of the cohort was 36.5%. CONCLUSION: Applying our weaning strategy about 65% of the patients requiring long-term mechanical ventilation were successfully weaned. Weaning was achieved in approximately one fifth of the time previously spent on mechanical ventilation. However, the 3-month mortality of the investigated cohort was 36.3%.

Aged↗

Effect on the duration of mechanical ventilation of identifying patients capable of breathing spontaneously.

BACKGROUND: Prompt recognition of the reversal of respiratory failure may permit earlier discontinuation of mechanical ventilation, without harm to the patient. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, controlled trial in 300 adult patients receiving mechanical ventilation in medical and coronary intensive care units. In the intervention group, patients underwent daily screening of respiratory function by physicians, respiratory therapists, and nurses to identify those possibly capable of breathing spontaneously; successful tests were followed by two-hour trials of spontaneous breathing in those who met the criteria. Physicians were notified when their patients successfully completed the trials of spontaneous breathing. The control subjects had daily screening but no other interventions. In both groups, all clinical decisions, including the decision to discontinue mechanical ventilation, were made by the attending physicians. RESULTS: Although the 149 patients randomly assigned to the intervention group had more severe disease, they received mechanical ventilation for a median of 4.5 days, as compared with 6 days in the 151 patients in the control group (P=0.003). The median interval between the time a patient met the screening criteria and the discontinuation of mechanical ventilation was one day in the intervention group and three days in the control group (P<0.001). Complications -- removal of the breathing tube by the patient, reintubation, tracheostomy, and mechanical ventilation for more than 21 days -- occurred in 20 percent of the intervention group and 41 percent of the control group (P=0.001). The number of days of intensive care and hospital care was similar in the two groups. Total costs for the intensive care unit were lower in the intervention group (median, $15,740, vs. $20,890 in the controls, P=0.03); hospital costs were lower, though not significantly so (median, $26,229 and $29,048, respectively; P=0.3). CONCLUSIONS: Daily screening of the respiratory function of adults receiving mechanical ventilation, followed by trials of spontaneous breathing in appropriate patients and notification of their physicians when the trials were successful, can reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation and the cost of intensive care and is associated with fewer complications than usual care.

Adult↗

Real-time visualization of partial liquid ventilation in a model of acute lung injury.

BACKGROUND: To clarify the effects of partial liquid ventilation, we visualized and morphologically analyzed real-time alveolar recruitment in a model of acute lung injury. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: a group that underwent hydrochloric acid aspiration and mechanical gas ventilation (ALI group, n = 15), a group that underwent acid aspiration and partial liquid ventilation beginning 90 minutes after acid aspiration (PLV group, n = 15), and a group that underwent mechanical ventilation without acid aspiration (control group, n = 5). The number of ventilated alveoli and the diameter of the largest ventilated alveolus in each of 10 high-power fields observed on fluorescence micrographs with a tracer of labeled albumin were determined and averaged from 90 to 210 minutes after acid aspiration. RESULTS: The number of alveoli in the PLV group significantly increased in comparison to that in the ALI group. The diameter of the largest alveolus in the PLV group decreased from 103.7 +/- 16.3 microm to 76.3 +/- 6.5 microm until the end of the experiment. This diameter was equivalent to that in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The excellent alveolar recruitment suggests that liquid ventilation ameliorates ventilator-associated lung injury.

Acute Disease↗

Effect of a new ventilation system on health and well-being of office workers.

Sick building syndrome is the term given to a heterogeneous constellation of symptoms that affects workers in modern mechanically ventilated office buildings. Although the cause is unknown, there is evidence that the local environment of the work station is an important determinant of symptoms. In this study, investigators examined the effect of a new, individually controlled ventilation system on workers' symptoms. Investigators studied two groups of workers in one mechanically ventilated office building: (1) a control group at whose worksite no intervention was made and (2) an intervention group. The intervention consisted of installation of a device that allowed each worker control over the ventilation supplied to his or her worksite. Just before, and 4 and 16 mo after installation of this device, workers completed self-administered questionnaires regarding occurrence of symptoms. The new ventilation system resulted in higher air velocities, more variable temperatures, and higher concentrations of airborne dust and fungal spores. Four months after installation, workers with the new ventilation system reported fewer symptoms that were (a) work-related (p < .05) and that were work-related and frequent (p < .05); in addition, they reported fewer symptoms that reduced their capacity to work (p < .01). Sixteen months after installation, workers with the new device reported fewer symptoms than at baseline (although not as significantly), and they indicated that the indoor air quality improved their productivity by 11%, compared with a 4% reduction of productivity among the control group of workers (p < .001). Investigators concluded that the new ventilation system, which provided the workers with individual control over ventilation, was associated with important and sustained reduction in symptoms.

Adult↗

Comparison of automated and manual ventilation in a prehospital pediatric model.

OBJECTIVE: Portable transport ventilators (TV) and demand valves (DV) may be effective and easy-to-use alternatives to bag-valve (BV) for prehospital ventilation of adults. The purpose of the study was to determine whether such devices maintain arterial blood gases and airway pressures similar to those for BV in a pediatric swine model. METHOD: This study was a prospective, randomized, crossover design using immature swine (9.6 +/- 0.9 kg) to model ventilation in small children. Anesthetized, intubated, paralyzed, and cannulated animals were ventilated initially on standard mechanical hospital ventilation (HV). They were then assigned in random order to 10-minute intervals of ventilation using BV, TV, low-frequency jet ventilation (JV), and DV. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparisons (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS: The PaO2 exceeded 90 mm Hg for all animal/ventilation combinations. Blood PaCO2 was lower for BV and DV than it was for TV, JV, or HV. In contrast, blood pH was higher for BV and DV than it was for TV, JV, or HV. Peak airway pressure was higher for BV than it was for HV, TV, or JV; it was lower for JV than it was for HV, TV, or BV. CONCLUSION: This animal model suggests that automated TV and JV may provide more effective ventilation of children than do manual BV or DV devices. Although promising, these findings require application in children under prehospital emergent conditions.

Airway Resistance↗

Pressure support ventilation using a new tracheal gas injection tube.

In order to explore new types of jet ventilation, we tested a tracheal gas injection tube (TGIT) which included six thin capillaries and provided high pressure injection. The driving pressure was chosen to yield a plateau of inspiratory tracheal pressure of 10 cm H2O. An original controller was built to monitor spirometry and trigger injection in order to deliver both pressure controlled ventilation (PCVTGIT) and a new mode of inspiratory pressure support jet ventilation (IPSTGIT). The PVCTGIT mode maintained the same end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration as conventional ventilation with the same tidal and minute ventilation. We studied 10 patients after abdominal surgery. During spontaneous breathing, the patients were allowed to breathe through the tube, successively with and without IPSTGIT. IPSTGIT, compared with spontaneous breathing increased minute ventilation (from 5.7 (SD 1.6) to 7.1 (1.7) litre min-1) (P less than 0.001). It reduced the total work of breathing (from 0.625 (0.223) to 0.263 (0.151) J litre-1, respectively) (P less than 0.01) and the occlusion pressure (from 2.62 (1.28) to 1.36 (0.74) cm H2O, respectively) (P less than 0.01). It is concluded that this TGIT used with a specific system for sensing and triggering ventilation allows inspiratory pressure support during low frequency jet ventilation.

Female↗

A comparison of three modes of ventilation with the use of an adult circle system in an infant lung model.

UNLABELLED: We examined the efficiency of an adult circle system with adult bellows to deliver minute ventilation (VE) to an infant test lung model. A Narkomed 2B system (North American Drager, Telford, PA) using three modes of ventilator setup were used: A = time-cycled, volume-controlled using bellows excursion to control delivered volume; B = time-cycled, pressure-controlled using inspiratory pressure limit adjustment to control delivered volume; C = time-cycled, pressure-controlled using the inspiratory flow adjustment to control delivered volume. VE was measured with two compliances (normal and low) and four endotracheal tube (ETT) sizes (2.5-, 3.0-, 3.5-, and 4.0-mm inner diameter). VE was measured at peak inspiratory pressures (PIP) of 20, 30, 40 or 50 cm H2O while respiratory rate (RR) was held constant at 20 breaths/min. VE was measured as RR was set at 20, 30, 40, or 50 breaths/min while target PIP was held constant at 20 cm H2O. Data were analyzed using the multiple regression technique. With the low compliance model, VE was nearly identical regardless of the ventilator setup. With the normal compliance model, minor differences in VE were observed, especially at the highest RR and PIP. VE was dependent on RR, PIP, and lung compliance. Overall, the ventilator setup resulted in minor changes in VE. Very high PIPs were required to deliver VE to the low compliance model. ETT size did not affect VE when lung compliance was low; however, smaller ETT size was a factor when test lung compliance was normal, decreasing delivered VE at higher PIP and RR. We conclude that with a Narkomed 2B adult circle system VE is dependent on PIP, RR, and lung compliance, but not on mode of ventilator setup. IMPLICATIONS: The results of this laboratory investigation indicate that when an adult circle system is used during infant anesthesia, the ventilation delivered depends primarily on the respiratory rate, peak inspiratory pressure, and the compliance of the lung being ventilated, rather than on the specific mode of ventilator setup.

Adult↗

Effect of interfacing between spontaneous breathing and mechanical cycles on the ventilation-perfusion distribution in canine lung injury.

BACKGROUND: Improved matching between ventilation and perfusion (VA/Q) has been proposed to be a major advantage of partial ventilatory support compared with controlled mechanical ventilation. This study was designed to determine whether a difference in gas exchange exists between partial ventilatory support techniques that allow unsupported spontaneous breathing to occur during any phase of the mechanical ventilatory cycle and those that provide mechanical support for each spontaneous inspiratory effort. METHODS: Ten anesthetized dogs with oleic acid-induced lung injury received, in random order, pressure-support ventilation (PSV) and airway pressure-release ventilation (APRV) with and without spontaneous breathing using equivalent airway pressure limits. Gas exchange was assessed by conventional blood gas analysis and by estimating the VA/Q distributions using the multiple inert-gas elimination technique. RESULTS: During APRV, spontaneous breathing accounted for 10 +/- 1% of the total expiratory minute ventilation. Breath-to-breath ventilatory support with PSV resulted in the highest total expiratory minute ventilation (P < 0.05). During spontaneous breathing with APRV, cardiac output increased from 3.9 +/- 0.3 to 4.6 +/- 0.41.min-1 (P < 0.05), arterial oxygen tension from 75 +/- 3 to 107 +/- 8 mmHg (P < 0.05), and oxygen delivery from 567 +/- 47 to 719 +/- 73 ml.kg.min-1 (P < 0.05). PSV did not increase cardiac output, arterial oxygen tension, and oxygen delivery. Spontaneous breathing did not increase oxygen consumption. During APRV spontaneous breathing accounted for a 13 +/- 2% decrease (P < 0.05) in blood flow to shunt units (VA/Q < 0.005) and a 14 +/- 2% increase (P < 0.05) in the perfusion of normal VA/Q units (0.1 < VA/Q < 10). Pulmonary blood flow distribution to shunt and normal VA/Q units was similar during PSV and APRV without spontaneous breathing. Dead space (VA/Q > 100) ventilation decreased by 6% during APRV with spontaneous breathing compared with PSV (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous breathing superimposed on mechanical ventilation contributes to improved VA/Q matching and increased systemic blood flow. Apparently, the spontaneous contribution to a mechanically assisted breath during PSV is not sufficient to counteract the VA/Q maldistribution of positive pressure lung insufflation during acute lung injury.

Animals↗

Cytomegalovirus. An unexpected cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) frequently is observed in immunocompromised hosts. The aim of this study was to report cases of ventilator-associated CMV pneumonia diagnosed by pathologic examination in intensive care patients without acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or hematologic malignancy or who were not receiving immunosuppressive agents. METHODS: From June 1, 1989, to May 31, 1994, 2,785 patients were hospitalized. During the study period, 60 autopsies and 26 open-lung biopsies were performed in nonimmunocompromised patients who were seen with acute respiratory failure and/or symptoms suggestive of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Cytomegalovirus pneumonia was diagnosed using pulmonary samples by the identification of large cells with large nuclei containing a basophilic or eosinophilic inclusion surrounded by a light halo. These typical findings always were associated with a diffuse interstitial pneumonitis. RESULTS: Cytomegalovirus pneumonia was diagnosed after histologic examination in 25 patients. The reason for admission to the intensive care unit was major surgery in 13 patients and medical problems in 12 patients. Ventilator-associated CMV pneumonia was diagnosed by histologic examination 22.4 +/- 8.8 days after admission to the intensive care unit (median 18 days; range 10-40 days). The clinical description was similar with the 25 patients who were seen with ventilator associated CMV pneumonia and the 61 patients without ventilator-associated CMV pneumonia. However, there was a more severe hypoxemia 72 +/- 16 vs. 95 +/- 41 mmHg, P < 0.05) and a higher Weinberg's radiologic score (9.2 +/- 1.9 vs. 7.4. +/- 2.7, P < 0.05) in the ventilator-associated CMV pneumonia group. Diagnosis of ventilator-associated CMV pneumonia was made for 9 of 17 patients when shell-vial culture technique using fluorescein-labelled antibody E 13 was performed on bronchoalveolar lavage products. Four of the eight patients treated by ganciclovir therapy died of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of ventilator-associated CMV pneumonia should not be excluded in intensive care patients, even those without acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, hematologic malignancy, or immunosuppressive agents on admission.

Aged↗

Clearance of mucus from endotracheal tubes during intratracheal pulmonary ventilation.

BACKGROUND: Intratracheal pulmonary ventilation (ITPV) is a form of tracheal gas insufflation in which all gas emerges in a cephalad direction from the tip of a reverse-thrust catheter positioned within an endotracheal tube. In vitro experiments have shown that this rapid gas flow, with 5 ml/h of normal saline added to the gas flow, continuously removes tracheal secretions from within the endotracheal tube. The authors evaluated its effectiveness to remove mucus in long-term studies in sheep. METHODS: Fourteen healthy sheep were tracheally intubated and ventilated for 3 days with ITPV or with volume-controlled ventilation. Measurements were made of the total amount of secretions within the endotracheal tubes (weight gain), the protein content within the endotracheal tubes, and the increase in resistance to constant air flow. The structure of the airways was examined grossly and histologically. Three additional sheep were ventilated for 24 h with ITPV, and Evans Blue dye was added to the saline to assess the distribution of the infused saline. RESULTS: There was significantly less mucus in endotracheal tubes of sheep ventilated with ITPV than with conventional ventilation, as shown by minimal weight gain (0.70 +/- 0.14 g vs. 2.44 +/- 0.81 g; P < 0.001), lower protein content (14.09 +/- 10.79 mg vs. 294.99 +/- 153.06 mg; P < 0.001), and lower resistance to constant air flow (6.15 +/- 0.54 cm H2O x 1(-1) x s(-1) vs. 15.34 +/- 5.28 cm H2O x 1(-1) x s(-1); P < 0.001). Results of gross and histological examinations of the tracheas of animals in both groups were similar, and the tracheas were well preserved. More than 95% of the instilled saline was recovered during ITPV. Only traces of Evans Blue dye were found near the tip of the endotracheal tubes. CONCLUSION: Intratracheal pulmonary ventilation makes it possible to keep the endotracheal tubes of sheep ventilated for 3 days free of mucus without suctioning.

Animals↗

Effects of mechanical ventilation on release of cytokines into systemic circulation in patients with normal pulmonary function.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical ventilation with high tidal volumes (V(T)) in contrast to mechanical ventilation with low V(T) has been shown to increase plasma levels of proinflammatory and antiinflammatory mediators in patients with acute lung injury. The authors hypothesized that, in patients without previous lung injury, a conventional potentially injurious ventilatory strategy with high V(T) and zero end-expiratory pressure (ZEEP) will not cause a cytokine release into systemic circulation. METHODS: A total of 39 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-II and without signs of systemic infection scheduled for elective surgery with general anesthesia were randomized to receive mechanical ventilation with either (1) V(T) = 15 ml/kg ideal body weight on ZEEP, (2) V(T) = 6 ml/kg ideal body weight on ZEEP, or (3) V(T) = 6 ml/kg ideal body weight on positive end-expiratory pressure of 10 cm H2O. Plasma levels of proinflammatory and antiinflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and IL-1 receptor antagonist were determined before and 1 h after the initiation of mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: Plasma levels of all cytokines remained low in all settings. IL-6, tumor necrosis factor, and IL-1 receptor antagonist did not change significantly after 1 h of mechanical ventilation. IL-10 was below the detection limit (10 pg/ml) in 35 of 39 patients. There were no differences between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Initiation of mechanical ventilation for 1 h in patients without previous lung injury caused no consistent changes in plasma levels of studied mediators. Mechanical ventilation with high V(T) on ZEEP did not result in higher cytokine levels compared with lung-protective ventilatory strategies. Previous lunge damage seems to be mandatory to cause an increase in plasma cytokines after 1 h of high V(T) mechanical ventilation.

Adult↗

The Siemens-Elema Servo Ventilator 900 B for the management of newborn infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome: a 22-month trial.

The Siemens-Elema Servo Ventilator 900 B is an electronically-controlled, volume-limited ventilator. To adapt this ventilator for use in newborns with respiratory failure, minute volume control, PEEP valves, air-oxygen blenders, and respiratory tubing circuits were modified. During a 22-month period, 161 newborn infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) were managed with this ventilator. The overall survival rate was 66%; the incidence of barotrauma was 20%; the survival rate was 53%. Of the infants studied, 12% developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and 79% of these survived. Of the 19% of patients with a symptomatic intraventricular hemorrhage, 6% survived. The experience of the authors with this ventilator modified to manage newborn infants with severe RDS has been extremely encouraging. Furthermore, this ventilator is versatile because it can be readily recalibrated for use in older patients and can be easily adapted for patients requiring surgery. This ventilator has the extremely important advantage of being a volume ventilator which can effectively provide positive pressure ventilatory support to patients of all age and weight groups.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Effect of high-frequency positive-pressure ventilation on halothane ablation of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.

High-frequency positive-pressure ventilation (HFPPV) was compared to intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (IPPV) during unilateral atelectasis with and without halothane anesthesia. Dogs with electromagnetic flow probes chronically implanted on their main (Qt) and left (Ql) pulmonary arteries were ventilated via Carlen's dual-lumen endotracheal tubes. In eight closed-chest dogs, about 43% of the cardiac output perfused the left lung during bilateral ventilation by either a Harvard animal respirator (IPPV) or a Health-dyne model 300 high-frequency ventilator (HFPPV). Unilateral atelectasis decreased blood flow (Ql/Qt) to that lung. Ql/Qt was 19 +/- 1% with HFPPV during left-lung atelectasis and right-lung ventilation, compared to 32 +/- 1% with unilateral IPPV. This suggests that HFPPV permits stronger hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. Addition of 1% halothane increased blood flow to the atelectatic left lung during unilateral ventilation with IPPV but not with HFPPV. This suggests that halothane decreases the effects of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction during conventional ventilation but not during HFPPV.

Animals↗

Comparison of blood gases of ventilated patients during transport.

Three modes of ventilation during the transport of 30 ventilator-dependent patients were compared using blood gas variables. Ten were ventilated with a manually operated, ventilation bag (group C) and ten with a tidal volume meter at the exhalation valve of the ventilation bag (group V). Another ten patients (group O) were ventilated with a portable ventilator set to the minute volume (VE) given in ICU. VE was measured by volumetry as described above. Blood gases were analyzed in the ICU before and at the end of transport. In group C, significant decreases occurred in arterial (p less than .01) and central venous (p less than .05) PCO2, as well as in central venous PO2 (p less than .01). Arterial (p less than .05) and central venous (p less than .01) pH increased. Group V showed no statistically significant changes. In group O, arterial (p less than .01) and central venous (p less than .05) PCO2 decreased whereas arterial (p less than .01) and central venous (p less than .05) pH increased. We conclude that VE should be monitored during transport of ventilated patients.

Blood Gas Analysis↗

Enoximone and acute left ventricular failure during weaning from mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate enoximone, a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, in the treatment of left ventricular failure during the weaning of patients from mechanical ventilation after heart surgery. DESIGN: Open label, prospective, weaning trial. SETTING: Cardiothoracic surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in a university hospital. PATIENTS: Nine patients were studied after one or more unsuccessful attempts at weaning from mechanical ventilation due to left ventricular dysfunction. INTERVENTION: For each patient, two respiratory weaning attempts were studied: the first one as a control and the second one with enoximone infused at a rate of 30 micrograms/kg/min for 30 mins, then at a rate of 10 micrograms/kg/min. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Hemodynamic measurements were performed at the following interval times: baseline during mechanical ventilation; during spontaneous ventilation with a T-piece for a minimum of 10 mins; during mechanical ventilation after the enoximone infusion for 30 mins; during spontaneous ventilation for a minimum of 10 mins with an enoximone infusion running. During spontaneous ventilation, enoximone increased cardiac index by 34% but mean artery, right atrial, and pulmonary artery occlusion pressures did not change. Despite an increase in venous admixture due to augmented cardiac index and inhibition of hypoxic vasoconstriction, no oxygen debt occurred because oxygen delivery increased. Seven of nine patients were weaned successfully from mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSION: Because of its positive inotropic and vasodilatory properties, enoximone is helpful for respiratory weaning of patients with left ventricular failure after cardiac surgery.

Aged↗

Optimal release time during airway pressure release ventilation in neonatal sheep.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically investigate the effect of altering release time during airway pressure release ventilation in a neonatal animal model before and after oleic acid-induced acute lung injury. DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized, controlled study with repeated measures. SETTING: University research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Eight neonatal sheep (aged < 7 days, weight 5.1 +/- 0.3 kg). INTERVENTIONS: Throughout this study, airway pressure release ventilation was performed with an FIO2 of 0.21 at a frequency of 0.5 Hz (30 breaths/min) and an airway plateau pressure set to deliver tidal volumes between 10 and 15 mL/kg with a release time of 1 sec. Release time was changed in decrements of 0.2 sec starting at 1 sec and ending at 0.2 sec at 10-min intervals. Cardio-respiratory profiles were recorded at the end of each interval. The total exhaled respiratory system time constant (tau) was measured by plotting exhaled volume (integration of exhaled air flow) vs. time. Acute lung injury was induced by oleic acid infusion. The protocol was repeated with increased plateau airway pressure to maintain tidal volumes between 10 and 15 mL/kg at a release time of 1 sec. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: During airway pressure release ventilation at a release time of 1 sec, oleic acid-induced acute lung injury decreased dynamic lung compliance (9.9 +/- 2.2 vs. 7.5 +/- 2.0 mL/cm H2O, p < .01), the expiratory time constant (0.15 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.12 +/- 0.02 sec, p < .05), and mean arterial pressure (80 +/- 5 vs. 62 +/- 12 mm Hg, p < .01). Alveolar ventilation was maintained as long as release times were > 0.4 sec (approximately 3 tau or greater). PaO2 decreased with release times of < 0.3 sec, but the alveolar-arterial oxygen tension difference was unchanged. In this protocol, with higher plateau and mean airway pressures, oleic acid-induced acute lung injury had no effect on the relationship between release time and oxygenation or ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: In this neonatal laboratory model, release times that were much shorter than previously reported maintained clinically acceptable oxygenation and ventilation. The optimal duration of the release time is a function of the time constant of the respiratory system. During airway pressure release ventilation, alveolar ventilation was maintained without apparent lung volume loss with release times of between 4 tau and 10 tau.

Animals↗