Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) is a new mode of mechanical ventilation that is controlled by the electrical activity of the diaphragm (EAdi). The EAdi is a signal that represents the patient's breathing effort, and hence with NAVA, the assist being delivered is synchronized and proportional to the demands of the patient. This is a prospective physiological study of the feasibility of NAVA ventilation over 24 hours. The aim is to demonstrate that NAVA can maintain spontaneous breathing and unload the respiratory muscles during both sleep and wake cycles over a 24 hour period.
To date, studies using NAVA technology have been limited to short term evaluations (under 3 hours). No serious adverse events have been observed in patients enrolled in our 3-hour study of NAVA in patients with acute lung injury. All 15 patients successfully tolerated the period of ventilation (i.e. there were no dropouts) with NAVA and the stability of the blood gas parameters over time reveals the efficiency of this new mode of ventilation in regards to oxygenation. A longer study may help to evaluate patient tolerance of NAVA and stability over time. A longer study will also demonstrate the feasibility of NAVA to adapt to changes in respiratory drive, changes in patient status, and the interventions of health care providers. A longer time frame should help us understand the parameters for titration of NAVA settings over time and establish some indications/limits for the future use of this promising technique. This intermediate study will generate the data necessary for the development of additional protocols to refine NAVA application and to compare NAVA to other assist modes.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
15
Mechanical ventilation controlled by diaphragm electrical activity
St-Michael's Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Feasibility of NAVA as assessed by: • Assessment of FiO2 changes • Assessment of the NAVA catheter function: o Stability of the EAdi signal from NAVA catheter o Requirements for NAVA catheter position change • Reasons for ventilator alarms
Time frame: 24 hours
Patient tolerance of NAVA as assessed by: • Changes in SAS scoring and sedation requirement • Changes in vital signs (HR/BP) and vasopressors requirements • Changes in oxygenation/ventilation
Time frame: 24 hours
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