Effects of infant ventilator design on spontaneous breathing

Study of the mechanical work of spontaneous breaths taken by eight infants attached to infant ventilators. Work was estimated from the volume displacement and pressure fluctuations of breathing during steady state mechanical ventilator conditions (i.e., stable peak or PEEP pressures). A broad difference existed between manufacturers of infant ventilators; a dramatic reduction was seen in work when attached to a demand as compared to a continuous flow device. Additionally, some change in work occurred, depending on the phase of the IMV cycle in which spontaneous breath was taken. Dynamic testing of ventilators can reveal differences in function.