Multiple inert gas elimination technique by micropore membrane inlet mass spectrometry--a comparison with reference gas chromatography

The mismatching of alveolar ventilation and perfusion (VA/Q) is the major determinant of impaired gas exchange. The gold standard for measuring VA/Q distributions is based on measurements of the elimination and retention of infused inert gases. Conventional multiple inert gas elimination technique (MIGET) uses gas chromatography (GC) to measure the inert gas partial pressures, which requires tonometry of blood samples with a gas that can then be injected into the chromatograph. The method is laborious and requires meticulous care. A new technique based on micropore membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MMIMS) facilitates the handling of blood and gas samples and provides nearly real-time analysis. In this study we compared MIGET by GC and MMIMS in 10 piglets: 1) 3 with healthy lungs; 2) 4 with oleic acid injury; and 3) 3 with isolated left lower lobe ventilation. The different protocols ensured a large range of normal and abnormal VA/Q distributions. Eight inert gases (SF6, krypton, ethane, cyclopropane, desflurane, enflurane, diethyl ether, and acetone) were infused; six of these gases were measured with MMIMS, and six were measured with GC. We found close agreement of retention and excretion of the gases and the constructed VA/Q distributions between GC and MMIMS, and predicted PaO2 from both methods compared well with measured PaO2. VA/Q by GC produced more widely dispersed modes than MMIMS, explained in part by differences in the algorithms used to calculate VA/Q distributions. In conclusion, MMIMS enables faster measurement of VA/Q, is less demanding than GC, and produces comparable results.

Mechanical ventilation worsens abdominal edema and inflammation in porcine endotoxemia

INTRODUCTION

We hypothesized that mechanical ventilation per se increases abdominal edema and inflammation in sepsis and tested this in experimental endotoxemia.

METHODS

Thirty anesthetized piglets were allocated to one of five groups: healthy control pigs breathing spontaneously with continuous positive pressure of 5 cm H2O or mechanically ventilated with positive end-expiratory pressure of 5 cm H2O, and endotoxemic piglets during mechanical ventilation for 2.5 hours and then continued on mechanical ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure of either 5 or 15 cm H2O or switched to spontaneous breathing with continuous positive pressure of 5 cm H2O for another 2.5 hours. Abdominal edema formation was estimated by isotope technique, and inflammatory markers were measured in liver, intestine, lung, and plasma.

RESULTS

Healthy controls: 5 hours of spontaneous breathing did not increase abdominal fluid, whereas mechanical ventilation did (Normalized Index increased from 1.0 to 1.6; 1 to 3.3 (median and range, P<0.05)). Endotoxemic animals: Normalized Index increased almost sixfold after 5 hours of mechanical ventilation (5.9; 4.9 to 6.9; P<0.05) with twofold increase from 2.5 to 5 hours whether positive end-expiratory pressure was 5 or 15, but only by 40% with spontaneous breathing (P<0.05 versus positive end-expiratory pressure of 5 or 15 cm H2O). Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6 in intestine and liver were 2 to 3 times higher with mechanical ventilation than during spontaneous breathing (P<0.05) but similar in plasma and lung. Abdominal edema formation and TNF-α in intestine correlated inversely with abdominal perfusion pressure.

CONCLUSIONS

Mechanical ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure increases abdominal edema and inflammation in intestine and liver in experimental endotoxemia by increasing systemic capillary leakage and impeding abdominal lymph drainage.

Improved ventilation-perfusion matching by abdominal insufflation (pneumoperitoneum) with CO2 but not with air

BACKGROUND

Pneumoperitoneum (PP) by CO2-insufflation causes atelectasis however with maintained or even improved oxygenation. We studied the effect of abdominal insufflation by carbon dioxide (CO2) and air on gas exchange during PP.

METHODS

Twenty-seven anesthetized pigs were studied during PP with insufflations to 12 mmHg by either 1/CO2, 2/ air or 3/CO2 during intravenous nitroprusside infusion (SNP) (N.=9 in each group). In 3 pigs in each group, gamma camera technique (SPECT) was used to study ventilation and perfusion distributions, in another 6 pigs an inert-gas technique (MIGET) was used for assessing ventilation-perfusion matching (VA/Q). Measurements were made during anesthesia before and after 60 minutes of PP.

RESULTS

CO2-PP caused a shift of blood flow away from dependent, non-ventilated (atelectatic) to ventilated regions. Air-PP caused smaller, and SNP-PP even less shift of lung blood flow. Shunt decreased during CO2-PP (6 ± 1% compared to baseline 9 ± 2%, P<0.05), did not change during Air-PP (10 ± 2%) and increased during SNP-PP (16 ± 2%, P<0.05). PaO2 increased from baseline 35 ± 2 to 41 ± 3 kPa during CO2-PP and decreased to 32 ± 3 kPa during Air-PP and to 27 ± 3 kPa during SNP-PP (P<0.05 for all three comparisons). PaCO2 increased during CO2- and SNP-PP.

CONCLUSION

CO2-PP enhanced the shift of blood flow towards better ventilated areas of the lung compared to Air-PP and SNP blunted the effects seen with CO2-PP. SNP may thus have blunted and CO2 potentiated vasoconstriction, by hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction or another mechanism.

Recruitment and PEEP level influences long-time aeration in saline-lavaged piglets: an experimental model

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate aeration/ventilation in saline-lavaged piglets during a 3-h follow-up after a recruitment maneuver (RM)/PEEP titration compared with PEEP 10 cmH2O without a RM.

BACKGROUND

Lung recruitment and PEEP titration are used to find a PEEP preventing repetitive opening/collapsing of lung.

METHODS

Twenty-one lung-lavaged piglets, mean age 7 weeks and mean weight 10 kg; a RM-group and a PEEP10-group, were ventilated at PEEP 5 cmH2O (baseline) followed by zero PEEP ventilation. In the RM-group, tidal elimination of CO2 and dynamic compliance (Cdyn) guided recruitment and PEEP titration, respectively. A final 3-h ventilation followed using PEEP 2 cmH2O above the first decline of Cdyn and end-inspiratory pressure (EIP) for a target tidal volume (VT) of 10 ml · kg(-1). In the PEEP10-group, PEEP 10 cmH2O without a RM was used during the final 3-h ventilation. CT scans and blood gases were repeated every 30 min. Airway pressures, Cdyn and hemodynamics were continuously recorded.

RESULTS

Aeration improved without differences between groups. The RM-group PEEP level of 10 ± 0.6 cmH2O did not differ from the PEEP10-group. Compared to baseline EIP was lower in the RM-group after 3-h ventilation. In both groups, driving pressure (DP) was lower and Cdyn higher than baseline. In the RM-group, final EIP and DP were lower and Cdyn higher than in the PEEP10-group.

CONCLUSIONS

Both RM/PEEP titration and PEEP elevation resulted in improved aeration without differences between groups at the end point. Lung aeration was achieved at lower EIP and DP and higher Cdyn in the RM-group than in the PEEP10-group.

Esophageal pressure: benefit and limitations

The recording of esophageal pressure (Pes) in supine position as a substitute for pleural pressure is difficult and fraught with potential errors. Pes is affected by the: 1) elastance and weight of the lung; 2) elastance and weight of the rib cage; 3) weight of the mediastinal organs; 4) elastance and weight of the diaphragm and abdomen; 5) elastance of the esophageal wall; and 6) elastance of the esophageal balloon (if filled with too much air). If the purpose is to measure lung compliance in the intensive care patient, reasonably useful information might be obtained by measuring airway pressure alone, considering chest wall compliance to be a weight that is forced away by the ventilation. Such weight requires a constant pressure for displacement. The transpulmonary pressure, whether calculated with Pes or by another measure of abdominal pressure, may guide in PEEP titration. It may also enable calculation of stresses applied to the lung and these may be more important in guiding an optimal ventilator setting than an optimum compliance or oxygenation of blood. Diaphragm function can be estimated by esophageal minus gastric pressure and with even more precision, when combined with diaphragm electromyography.

Evaluating abdominal oedema during experimental sepsis using an isotope technique

PURPOSE

Abdominal oedema is common in sepsis. A technique for the study of such oedema may guide in the fluid regime of these patients.

PROCEDURES

We modified a double-isotope technique to evaluate abdominal organ oedema and fluid extravasation in 24 healthy or endotoxin-exposed ('septic') piglets. Two different markers were used: red blood cells (RBC) labelled with Technetium-99m ((99m)Tc) and Transferrin labelled with Indium111 ((111)In). Images were acquired on a dual-head gamma camera. Microscopic evaluation of tissue biopsies was performed to compare data with the isotope technique.

RESULTS

No (99m)Tc activity was measured in the plasma fraction in blood sampled after labelling. Similarly, after molecular size gel chromatography, (111)In activity was exclusively found in the high molecular fraction of the plasma. Extravasation of transferrin, indicating the degree of abdominal oedema, was 4·06 times higher in the LPS group compared to the healthy controls (P<0·0001). Abdominal free fluid, studied in 3 animals, had as high (111)In activity as in plasma, but no (99m)Tc activity. Intestinal lymphatic vessel size was higher in LPS (3·7 ± 1·1 μm) compared to control animals (0·6 + 0·2 μm; P<0·001) and oedema correlated to villus diameter (R(2) = 0·918) and lymphatic diameter (R(2) = 0·758). A correlation between a normalized index of oedema formation (NI) and intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) was also found: NI = 0·46*IAP-3·3 (R(2) = 0·56).

CONCLUSIONS

The technique enables almost continuous recording of abdominal oedema formation and may be a valuable tool in experimental research, with the potential to be applied in the clinic.

Non-toxic alveolar oxygen concentration without hypoxemia during apnoeic oxygenation: an experimental study

BACKGROUND

Oxygenation without tidal breathing, i.e. apnoeic oxygenation in combination with extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal, might be an option in the treatment of acute respiratory failure. However, ventilation with 100% O₂, which is potentially toxic, is considered a prerequisite to ensure acceptable oxygenation. We hypothesized that trapping nitrogen (N₂) in the lungs before the start of apnoeic oxygenation would keep the alveolar O₂ at a non-toxic level and still maintain normoxaemia. The aim was to test whether a predicted N₂ concentration would agree with a measured concentration at the end of an apnoeic period.

METHODS

Seven anaesthetized, muscle relaxed, endotracheally intubated pigs (22-27 kg) were ventilated in a randomized order with an inspired fraction of O₂ 0.6 and 0.8 at two positive end-expiratory pressure levels (5 cm and 10 cm H₂O) before being connected to continuous positive airway pressure using 100% O₂ for apnoeic oxygenation. N₂ was measured before the start of and at the end of the 10-min apnoeic period. The predicted N₂ concentration was calculated from the initial N₂ concentration, the end-expiratory lung volume, and the anatomical dead space.

RESULTS

The mean difference and standard deviation between measured and predicted N₂ concentration was -0.5 ± 2%, P = 0.587. No significant difference in the agreement between measured and predicted N₂ concentrations was seen in the four settings.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that it is possible to predict and keep alveolar N₂ concentration at a desired level and, thus, alveolar O₂ concentration at a non-toxic level during apnoeic oxygenation.

Regional lung perfusion estimated by electrical impedance tomography in a piglet model of lung collapse

The assessment of the regional match between alveolar ventilation and perfusion in critically ill patients requires simultaneous measurements of both parameters. Ideally, assessment of lung perfusion should be performed in real-time with an imaging technology that provides, through fast acquisition of sequential images, information about the regional dynamics or regional kinetics of an appropriate tracer. We present a novel electrical impedance tomography (EIT)-based method that quantitatively estimates regional lung perfusion based on first-pass kinetics of a bolus of hypertonic saline contrast. Pulmonary blood flow was measured in six piglets during control and unilateral or bilateral lung collapse conditions. The first-pass kinetics method showed good agreement with the estimates obtained by single-photon-emission computerized tomography (SPECT). The mean difference (SPECT minus EIT) between fractional blood flow to lung areas suffering atelectasis was -0.6%, with a SD of 2.9%. This method outperformed the estimates of lung perfusion based on impedance pulsatility. In conclusion, we describe a novel method based on EIT for estimating regional lung perfusion at the bedside. In both healthy and injured lung conditions, the distribution of pulmonary blood flow as assessed by EIT agreed well with the one obtained by SPECT. The method proposed in this study has the potential to contribute to a better understanding of the behavior of regional perfusion under different lung and therapeutic conditions.

Spontaneous breathing improves shunt fraction and oxygenation in comparison with controlled ventilation at a similar amount of lung collapse

BACKGROUND

Spontaneous breathing (SB), when allowed during mechanical ventilation (MV), improves oxygenation in different models of acute lung injury. However, it is not known whether oxygenation is improved during mechanically unsupported SB. Therefore, we compared SB without any support with controlled MV at identical tidal volume (VT) and respiratory rate (RR) without positive end-expiratory pressure in a porcine lung collapse model.

METHODS

In 25 anesthetized piglets, stable lung collapse was induced by application of negative pressure, and animals were randomized to either resume SB or to be kept on MV at identical VT (5 mL/kg; 95% confidence interval: 3.8 to 6.4) and RR (65 per minute [57 to 73]) as had been measured during an initial SB period. Oxygenation was assessed by blood gas analysis (n=15) completed by multiple inert gas elimination technique (n=8 of the 15) for shunt measurement. In addition, possible lung recruitment was studied with computed tomography of the chest (n=10).

RESULTS

After induction of lung collapse, PaO2/FIO2 decreased to 90 mm Hg (76 to 103). With SB, PaO2/FIO2 increased to 235 mm Hg (177 to 293) within 15 minutes, whereas MV at identical Vt and RR did not cause any improvement in oxygenation. Intrapulmonary shunt by 45 minutes after induction of lung collapse was lower during SB (SB: 27% [24 to 30] versus MV: 41% [28 to 55]; P=0.017). Neither SB nor MV reduced collapsed lung areas on computed tomography.

CONCLUSIONS

SB without any support improves oxygenation and reduces shunt in comparison with MV at identical settings. This seems to be achieved without any major signs of recruitment of collapsed lung regions.

Right main bronchus perforation detected by 3D-image

A male metal worker, who has never smoked, contracted debilitating dyspnoea in 2003 which then deteriorated until 2007. Spirometry and chest x-rays provided no diagnosis. A 3D-image of the airways was reconstructed from a high-resolution CT (HRCT) in 2007, showing peribronchial air on the right side, mostly along the presegmental airways. After digital subtraction of the image of the peribronchial air, a hole on the cranial side of the right main bronchus was detected. The perforation could be identified at the re-examination of HRCTs in 2007 and 2009, but not in 2010 when it had possibly healed. The occupational exposure of the patient to evaporating chemicals might have contributed to the perforation and hampered its healing. A 3D HRCT reconstruction should be considered to detect bronchial anomalies, including wall-perforation, when unexplained dyspnoea or other chest symptoms call for extended investigation.

Improved ventilation-perfusion matching with increasing abdominal pressure during CO(2) -pneumoperitoneum in pigs

BACKGROUND

CO(2) -pneumoperitoneum (PP) is performed at varying abdominal pressures. We studied in an animal preparation the effect of increasing abdominal pressures on gas exchange during PP.

METHODS

Eighteen anaesthetized pigs were studied. Three abdominal pressures (8, 12 and 16 mmHg) were randomly selected in each animal. In six pigs, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was used for the analysis of V/Q distributions; in another six pigs, multiple inert gas elimination technique (MIGET) was used for assessing V/Q matching. In further six pigs, computed tomography (CT) was performed for the analysis of regional aeration. MIGET, CT and central haemodynamics and pulmonary gas exchange were recorded during anaesthesia and after 60 min on each of the three abdominal pressures. SPECT was performed three times, corresponding to each PP level.

RESULTS

Atelectasis, as assessed by CT, increased during PP and in proportion to abdominal pressure [from 9 ± 2% (mean ± standard deviation) at 8 mmHg to 15 ± 2% at 16 mmHg, P<0.05]. SPECT during increasing abdominal CO(2) pressures showed a shift of blood flow towards better ventilated areas. V/Q analysis by MIGET showed no change in shunt during 8 mmHg PP (9 ± 1.9% compared with baseline 9 ± 1.2%) but a decrease during 12 mmHg PP (7 ± 0.9%, P<0.05) and 16 mmHg PP (5 ± 1%, P<0.01). PaO(2) increased from 39 ± 10 to 52 ± 9 kPa (baseline to 16 mmHg PP, P<0.01). Arterial carbon dioxide (PCO(2) ) increased during PP and increased further with increasing abdominal pressures.

CONCLUSION

With increasing abdominal pressure during PP perfusion was redistributed more than ventilation away from dorsal, collapsed lung regions. This resulted in a better V/Q match. A possible mechanism is enhanced hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction mediated by increasing PCO(2) .

Rationale and study design of PROVHILO - a worldwide multicenter randomized controlled trial on protective ventilation during general anesthesia for open abdominal surgery

BACKGROUND

Post-operative pulmonary complications add to the morbidity and mortality of surgical patients, in particular after general anesthesia >2 hours for abdominal surgery. Whether a protective mechanical ventilation strategy with higher levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and repeated recruitment maneuvers; the "open lung strategy", protects against post-operative pulmonary complications is uncertain. The present study aims at comparing a protective mechanical ventilation strategy with a conventional mechanical ventilation strategy during general anesthesia for abdominal non-laparoscopic surgery.

METHODS

The PROtective Ventilation using HIgh versus LOw positive end-expiratory pressure ("PROVHILO") trial is a worldwide investigator-initiated multicenter randomized controlled two-arm study. Nine hundred patients scheduled for non-laparoscopic abdominal surgery at high or intermediate risk for post-operative pulmonary complications are randomized to mechanical ventilation with the level of PEEP at 12 cmH(2)O with recruitment maneuvers (the lung-protective strategy) or mechanical ventilation with the level of PEEP at maximum 2 cmH(2)O without recruitment maneuvers (the conventional strategy). The primary endpoint is any post-operative pulmonary complication.

DISCUSSION

The PROVHILO trial is the first randomized controlled trial powered to investigate whether an open lung mechanical ventilation strategy in short-term mechanical ventilation prevents against postoperative pulmonary complications.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN: ISRCTN70332574.

Lung regional stress and strain as a function of posture and ventilatory mode

During positive-pressure ventilation parenchymal deformation can be assessed as strain (volume increase above functional residual capacity) in response to stress (transpulmonary pressure). The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between stress and strain on the regional level using computed tomography in anesthetized healthy pigs in two postures and two patterns of breathing. Airway opening and esophageal pressures were used to calculate stress; change of gas content as assessed from computed tomography was used to calculate strain. Static stress-strain curves and dynamic strain-time curves were constructed, the latter during the inspiratory phase of volume and pressure-controlled ventilation, both in supine and prone position. The lung was divided into nondependent, intermediate, dependent, and central regions: their curves were modeled by exponential regression and examined for statistically significant differences. In all the examined regions, there were strong but different exponential relations between stress and strain. During mechanical ventilation, the end-inspiratory strain was higher in the dependent than in the nondependent regions. No differences between volume- and pressure-controlled ventilation were found. However, during volume control ventilation, prone positioning decreased the end-inspiratory strain of dependent regions and increased it in nondependent regions, resulting in reduced strain gradient. Strain is inhomogeneously distributed within the healthy lung. Prone positioning attenuates differences between dependent and nondependent regions. The regional effects of ventilatory mode and body positioning should be further explored in patients with acute lung injury.

Capnography reflects ventilation/perfusion distribution in a model of acute lung injury

BACKGROUND

Changes in the shape of the capnogram may reflect changes in lung physiology. We studied the effect of different ventilation/perfusion ratios (V/Q) induced by positive end-expiratory pressures (PEEP) and lung recruitment on phase III slope (S(III)) of volumetric capnograms.

METHODS

Seven lung-lavaged pigs received volume control ventilation at tidal volumes of 6 ml/kg. After a lung recruitment maneuver, open-lung PEEP (OL-PEEP) was defined at 2 cmH(2)O above the PEEP at the onset of lung collapse as identified by the maximum respiratory compliance during a decremental PEEP trial. Thereafter, six distinct PEEP levels either at OL-PEEP, 4 cmH(2)O above or below this level were applied in a random order, either with or without a prior lung recruitment maneuver. Ventilation-perfusion distribution (using multiple inert gas elimination technique), hemodynamics, blood gases and volumetric capnography data were recorded at the end of each condition (minute 40).

RESULTS

S (III) showed the lowest value whenever lung recruitment and OL-PEEP were jointly applied and was associated with the lowest dispersion of ventilation and perfusion (Disp(R-E)), the lowest ratio of alveolar dead space to alveolar tidal volume (VD(alv)/VT(alv)) and the lowest difference between arterial and end-tidal pCO(2) (Pa-ETCO(2)). Spearman's rank correlations between S(III) and Disp(R-E) showed a ρ=0.85 with 95% CI for ρ (Fisher's Z-transformation) of 0.74-0.91, P<0.0001.

CONCLUSION

In this experimental model of lung injury, changes in the phase III slope of the capnograms were directly correlated with the degree of ventilation/perfusion dispersion.

Effects of propofol anaesthesia on thoraco-abdominal volume variations during spontaneous breathing and mechanical ventilation

BACKGROUND

Anaesthesia based on inhalational agents has profound effects on chest wall configuration and breathing pattern. The effects of propofol are less well characterised. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of propofol anaesthesia on chest wall motion during spontaneous breathing and positive pressure ventilation.

METHODS

We studied 16 subjects undergoing elective surgery requiring general anaesthesia. Chest wall volumes were continuously monitored by opto-electronic plethysmography during quiet breathing (QB) in the conscious state, induction of anaesthesia, spontaneous breathing during anaesthesia (SB), pressure support ventilation (PSV) and pressure control ventilation (PCV) after muscle paralysis.

RESULTS

The total chest wall volume decreased by 0.41 ± 0.08 l immediately after induction by equal reductions in the rib cage and abdominal volumes. An increase in the rib cage volume was then seen, resulting in total chest wall volumes 0.26 ± 0.09, 0.24 ± 0.10, 0.22 ± 0.10 l lower than baseline, during SB, PSV and PCV, respectively. During QB, rib cage volume displacement corresponded to 34.2 ± 5.3% of the tidal volume. During SB, PSV and PCV, this increased to 42.2 ± 4.9%, 48.2 ± 3.6% and 46.3 ± 3.2%, respectively, with a corresponding decrease in the abdominal contribution. Breathing was initiated by the rib cage muscles during SB.

CONCLUSION

Propofol anaesthesia decreases end-expiratory chest wall volume, with a more pronounced effect on the diaphragm than on the rib cage muscles, which initiate breathing after apnoea.

Positive end-expiratory pressure optimization with forced oscillation technique reduces ventilator induced lung injury: a controlled experimental study in pigs with saline lavage lung injury

Introduction

Protocols using high levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in combination with low tidal volumes have been shown to reduce mortality in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, the optimal method for setting PEEP is yet to be defined. It has been shown that respiratory system reactance (Xrs), measured by the forced oscillation technique (FOT) at 5 Hz, may be used to identify the minimal PEEP level required to maintain lung recruitment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if using Xrs for setting PEEP would improve lung mechanics and reduce lung injury compared to an oxygenation-based approach.

Methods

17 pigs, in which acute lung injury (ALI) was induced by saline lavage, were studied. Animals were randomized into two groups: in the first PEEP was titrated according to Xrs (FOT group), in the control group PEEP was set according to the ARDSNet protocol (ARDSNet group). The duration of the trial was 12 hours. In both groups recruitment maneuvers (RM) were performed every 2 hours, increasing PEEP to 20 cmH₂O. In the FOT group PEEP was titrated by monitoring Xrs while PEEP was reduced from 20 cmH₂O in steps of 2 cmH₂O. PEEP was considered optimal at the step before which Xrs started to decrease. Ventilatory parameters, lung mechanics, blood gases and hemodynamic parameters were recorded hourly. Lung injury was evaluated by histopathological analysis.

Results

The PEEP levels set in the FOT group were significantly higher compared to those set in the ARDSNet group during the whole trial. These higher values of PEEP resulted in improved lung mechanics, reduced driving pressure, improved oxygenation, with a trend for higher PaCO₂ and lower systemic and pulmonary pressure. After 12 hours of ventilation, histopathological analysis showed a significantly lower score of lung injury in the FOT group compared to the ARDSNet group.

Conclusions

In a lavage model of lung injury a PEEP optimization strategy based on maximizing Xrs attenuated the signs of ventilator induced lung injury. The respiratory system reactance measured by FOT could thus be an important component in a strategy for delivering protective ventilation to patients with ARDS/acute lung injury.