The use of esophageal balloon catheters, which use esophageal pressure as a surrogate measurement for transpleural pressure, shows promise in improving outcomes of patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring mechanical ventilator. The investigators hope to measure changes in in transpleural pressures in patients undergoing treatment with mechanical ventilation while switching from the supine, upright (head of bed \>30 degrees), and prone positions. The goal will be to measure the changes in chest wall and lung compliance in mechanically ventilated patients with changes in position.
The use of esophageal balloon catheters shows promise in improving outcomes of patients with severe ARDS. The estimation of pleural pressure (Ppl) has been validated in the upright position in humans with few studies commenting on the changes in supine positioning and almost none on prone positioning aside from radiographic analysis. An abstract presented at the annual American Thoracic Society meeting recently reported a series of 18 patients undergoing spinal surgery. In this population of patients without ARDS, esophageal pressure (Pes) decreased when shifting from supine to prone positioning. This suggests that transpleural pressure (PtmL) would be increased at a given airway pressure. The investigators hope to measure changes in PtmL in patients undergoing treatment with mechanical ventilation while switching from the supine, upright (head of bed \>30 degrees), and prone positions. The esophageal balloon catheter will be placed using standard techniques and secured with tape to the patients' nares during changes in positioning. The goal will be to measure the changes in chest wall and lung compliance in mechanically ventilated patients with changes in position.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
2
Measurements obtained from mechanically ventilated patients with ARDS in the supine, upright and prone positions
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Change in Esophageal pressure measurements from upright to prone position
Obtained from esophageal balloon catheter measurements in prone and upright positions
Time frame: Measurements will be obtained in the baseline upright position and repeated after about 4 hours in the prone position.
Change in Esophageal pressure measurements from upright to supine position
Obtained from esophageal balloon catheter measurements in upright and supine positions
Time frame: The patient is upright at baseline where measurements will be obtained. About 5 minutes will be spent in the supine position.
Change in Transmural pressure measurements from upright to prone position
Obtained from combination of esophageal balloon catheter measurements and mechanical ventilator in upright and prone positions
Time frame: Measurements will be obtained in the baseline upright position and repeated after about 4 hours in the prone position.
Change in Transmural pressure measurements from upright to supine position
Obtained from esophageal balloon catheter measurements in upright and supine positions
Time frame: The patient is upright at baseline where measurements will be obtained. About 5 minutes will be spent in the supine position.
Change in Airway pressure measurements from upright to prone position
Obtained from mechanical ventilator in prone and upright positions
Time frame: Measurements will be obtained in the baseline upright position and repeated after about 4 hours in the prone position.
Change in Airway pressure measurements from upright to supine position
Obtained from mechanical ventilator in supine and upright positions
Time frame: The patient is upright at baseline where measurements will be obtained. About 5 minutes will be spent in the supine position.
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