Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

Preoxygenation Techniques for Tracheal Intubation in Critically Ill Adults Utilizing Oxygen Mask and Noninvasive Ventilation
Published on: December 5, 2025
Reverse Triggering With and Without Breath Stacking During Pressure-Controlled Ventilation: Exposure Burden and
Song Zhang1, Siyi Yuan1, Elias Baedorf Kassis2
1Drs. Zhang, Yuan, Chi, Huang, Yang, He and Profs. Su and Long are affiliated with Department of Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Background:
Reverse triggering is a complex form of asynchrony with different phenotypes. The exposure burden and clinical outcomes of reverse triggering during pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) are underexplored. We aimed at determining the incidence of reverse triggering and characterizing the impact of breath-stacking.
Methods:
This was a prospective, observational analysis. Adult subjects with PCV under long-term monitoring were included. The primary outcome was duration of invasive mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes included changes in mechanics and tidal volumes associated with breath-stacking, factors correlated with increased frequency of reverse triggering, and testing for thresholds of volume, which could be associated with harm.
Results:
Among 429 subjects with PCV and >24 h of usable waveform recording, 174 subjects (40.6%) were found to have reverse triggering, and 80 subjects had reverse triggering with breath-stacking. Reverse triggering with breath-stacking was associated with higher peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) (15.4 [14.3-17.0] versus 13.7 [11.4, 15.0] cm H2O, P < .001), driving pressure (ΔP) [8.5(7.5,10.0) versus 7.0(5.8,9.0) cm H2O, P < .001] and longer duration of invasive mechanical ventilation [7(3,15) versus 4(2,7) days, P = .015]. Higher level of ΔP (odds ratio [OR] = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.06-2.11, P = .02) and tidal volume (OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01-1.03, P < .001), more fentanyl infusion (OR,1.19, 95% CI: 1.17-1.20, P = .033) and lower value of PaO2/FIO2 (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98-1.00, P = .02) were risk factors possibly related to reverse triggering with breath-stacking. Receiver operating characteristic analysis suggests that a breath-stacked volume threshold of 141 mL might be associated with prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation.
Conclusions:
Reverse triggering with breath-stacking during PCV was characterized by higher PIP, ΔP, and longer duration of invasive mechanical ventilation. Larger volumes with breath-stacking may be associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation. Fentanyl usage and worse PaO2/FIO2 were risk factors related to reverse triggering with breath-stacking.
Related Concept Videos
Mechanical Ventilation II: Invasive Ventilation
Negative-Pressure Ventilators
Negative-pressure ventilators create a vacuum around the chest or body to draw air into the lungs, simulating breathing. This method does not require an...
Ventilatory Modes
There are three ventilatory modes: full support, partial support, and spontaneous. These are described below.
Full Support Modes
Full support modes include controlled mechanical ventilation, continuous mandatory...
Mechanical Ventilation III: Noninvasive Ventilation
Noninvasive Positive-Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV)
Physiological Control of Respiration
Breathing, a seemingly passive process, is regulated by the respiratory center in the brainstem. This center coordinates the involuntary control of respirations, which means it occurs without conscious effort, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted pattern.
Regulation of Ventilation
The body maintains ventilation by monitoring levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), and hydrogen ion concentration (pH) in the arterial blood. Among these factors, the level of CO2 plays a crucial...
Mechanical Ventilation I: Indication and Settings
Assessment of Ventilation I: Respiratory Rate
A Ventilation assessment is critical for monitoring a patient's health status. Respiration, one of the most accessible vital signs, provides insights into the function of numerous body systems and can indicate serious health issues, such as brainstem injuries from head trauma.
Critical Guidelines for Assessing Ventilation: