The addition of sighs during pressure support ventilation. Is there a benefit?

The purpose of this study was to determine if sigh breaths delivered during pressure support ventilation (PSV) were beneficial in maintaining arterial oxygenation (PaO2) and pulmonary mechanics. Ten patients being weaned from mechanical ventilation in the PSV mode were studied. All patients were ventilated for 4 h without sighs, 4 h with sighs, and again for 4 h without sighs. During each 4-h period, continuous measurements of ventilatory volumes and airway pressures were accomplished. At the end of each 4-h period, an arterial blood gas determination was obtained. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the measured variables during the different periods of ventilation. We conclude that the sigh breath is of no benefit during PSV.