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Airway pressure release ventilation
K Davis1, D J Johnson, R D Branson
1Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Medical Center, Ohio.
Background:
Elevated airway pressures during mechanical ventilation are associated with hemodynamic compromise and pulmonary barotrauma. We studied the cardiopulmonary effects of a pressure-limited mode of ventilation (airway pressure release ventilation) in patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome.
Methods:
Fifteen patients requiring intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV) and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) were studied. Following measurement of hemodynamic and ventilatory data, all patients were placed on airway pressure release ventilation (APRV). Cardiorespiratory measurements were repeated after a 2-hour stabilization period.
Results:
During ventilatory support with APRV, peak inspiratory pressure (62 +/- 10 vs 30 +/- 4 cm H2O) and PEEP (11 +/- 4 vs 7 +/- 2 cm H2O) were reduced compared with IMV. Mean airway pressure was higher with APRV (18 +/- 5 vs 24 +/- 4 cm H2O). There were no statistically significant differences in gas exchange or hemodynamic variables. Both cardiac output (8.7 +/- 1.8 vs 8.4 +/- 2.0 L/min) and partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (79 +/- 9 vs 86 +/- 11 mm Hg) were essentially unchanged.
Conclusions:
Our results suggest that while airway pressure release ventilation can provide similar oxygenation and ventilation at lower peak and end-expiratory pressures, this offers no hemodynamic advantages.