Hierarchical individualization of a recruitment model with a viscoelastic component for ARDS patients

Patient-specific mathematical models of respiratory mechanics enable substantial insight into patient state and pulmonary dynamics that are not directly measurable. Thus they offer potential e.g. to predict the outcome of ventilator settings for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) patients. In this work, an existing static recruitment model is extended by viscoelastic components allowing model simulations in various ventilation scenarios. A hierarchical approach is used to identify the model with measured data of 12 ARDS patients under static and dynamic conditions. Identified parameter values were physiologically plausible and reproduced the measured pressure responses with a median Coefficient of Determination (CD) of 0.972 in the dynamic and 0.992 in the static maneuver. Overall, the model presented incorporates physiological mechanisms, captures ARDS dynamics and viscoelastic tissue properties and is valid under various ventilation patterns.