Rationale: Tidal volume and plateau pressure limitation decreases mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Computed tomography demonstrated a small, normally aerated compartment on the top of poorly aerated and nonaerated compartments that may be hyperinflated by tidal inflation. Objectives: We hypothesized that despite tidal volume and plateau pressure limitation, patients with a larger nonaerated compartment are exposed to tidal hyperinflation of the normally aerated compartment. Measurements and Main Results: Pulmonary computed tomography at end-expiration and end-inspiration was obtained in 30 patients ventilated with a low tidal volume (6 ml/kg predicted body weight). Cluster analysis identified 20 patients in whom tidal inflation occurred largely in the normally aerated compartment (69.9 ± 6.9%; “more protected”), and 10 patients in whom tidal inflation occurred largely within the hyperinflated compartments (63.0 ± 12.7%; “less protected”). The nonaerated compartment was smaller and the normally aerated compartment was larger in the more protected patients than in the less protected patients (p = 0.01). Pulmonary cytokines were lower in the more protected patients than in the less protected patients (p < 0.05). Ventilator-free days were 7 ± 8 and 1 ± 2 d in the more protected and less protected patients, respectively (p = 0.01). Plateau pressure ranged between 25 and 26 cm H₂O in the more protected patients and between 28 and 30 cm H₂O in the less protected patients (p = 0.006). Conclusions: Limiting tidal volume to 6 ml/kg predicted body weight and plateau pressure to 30 cm H₂O may not be sufficient in patients characterized by a larger nonaerated compartment.

This report summarizes current physiological and technical knowledge on esophageal pressure (Pes) measurements in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. The respiratory changes in Pes are representative of changes in pleural pressure. The difference between airway pressure (Paw) and Pes is a valid estimate of transpulmonary pressure. Pes helps determine what fraction of Paw is applied to overcome lung and chest wall elastance. Pes is usually measured via a catheter with an air-filled thin-walled latex balloon inserted nasally or orally. To validate Pes measurement, a dynamic occlusion test measures the ratio of change in Pes to change in Paw during inspiratory efforts against a closed airway. A ratio close to unity indicates that the system provides a valid measurement. Provided transpulmonary pressure is the lung-distending pressure, and that chest wall elastance may vary among individuals, a physiologically based ventilator strategy should take the transpulmonary pressure into account. For monitoring purposes, clinicians rely mostly on Paw and flow waveforms. However, these measurements may mask profound patient–ventilator asynchrony and do not allow respiratory muscle effort assessment. Pes also permits the measurement of transmural vascular pressures during both passive and active breathing. Pes measurements have enhanced our understanding of the pathophysiology of acute lung injury, patient–ventilator interaction, and weaning failure. The use of Pes for positive end-expiratory pressure titration may help improve oxygenation and compliance. Pes measurements make it feasible to individualize the level of muscle effort during mechanical ventilation and weaning. The time is now right to apply the knowledge obtained with Pes to improve the management of critically ill and ventilator-dependent patients.

LIMITATION of tidal volume (V^T) to 6 ml/kg predicted body weight (PBW) and of end-inspiratory plateau pressure (P^PLAT) to a maximum of 30 cm H²O represents the standard for mechanical ventilation of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).1,2 However, recent studies found that (1) tidal hyperinflation may occur in some patients despite limiting V^Tto 6 ml/kg and P^PLATto 30 cm H²O³, (2) ARDS patients may benefit from V^Treduction even if they already have P^PLAT< 30 cm H²O.4

Research from JAMA — Early vs Late Tracheotomy for Prevention of Pneumonia in Mechanically Ventilated Adult ICU Patients — A Randomized Controlled Trial

To evaluate whether the shape of the airway pressure-time (Paw-t) curve during constant flow inflation corresponds to radiologic evidence of tidal recruitment or tidal hyperinflation in an experimental model of acute lung injury. Prospective randomized laboratory animal investigation. Department of Clinical Physiology, University of Uppsala, Sweden. Anesthetized, paralyzed, and mechanically ventilated pigs. Acute lung injury was induced by lung lavage. During constant inspiratory flow, the Paw-t curve was fitted to a power equation: airway pressure =a · timeb+c,where coefficient b (stress index) describes the shape of the curve:b = 1, straight curve; b < 1, progressive increase in slope; and b > 1, progressive decrease in slope. Tidal volume (Vt) was 6 mL/kg, and positive end-expiratory pressure was set to obtain a b value between 0.9 and 1.1 before (b = 1) and after (b = 1 after recruiting maneuver) application of a recruiting maneuver. Positive end-expiratory pressure was decreased and Vt increased to obtain 0.9 >b > 0.8 and 0.8 >b > 0.6, whereas positive end-expiratory pressure and Vt were both increased to obtain 1.3 >b > 1.1 and 1.5 >b > 1.3. Experimental conditions sequence was random. Pulmonary computed tomography was obtained during end-expiratory and end-inspiratory occlusions. Tidal recruitment was quantified as nonaerated (between −100 and +100 Hounsfield units) lung area at end-expiration minus end-inspiration. Tidal hyperinflation was quantified as hyperinflated (between −900 and −1000 Hounsfield units) lung area at end-inspiration minus end-expiration. Computed tomography images showed that tidal recruitment and tidal hyperinflation corresponded to b < 1 and b > 1, respectively. Stress index values and tidal recruitment and tidal hyperinflation values were significantly correlated (R2 = .917 and R2 = .911, p < .0001, respectively). Shape of the Paw-t curve detects tidal recruitment and tidal hyperinflation.