Effect of Ventilation Mode in the Pupillary Light Reflex: A Crossover Study

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to explore whether different modes of mechanical ventilation affect pupillary constriction velocities in critically ill patients without brain injury. The study aims to determine whether the type of mechanical ventilation (volume control, pressure control, or pressure-regulated volume control) influences the maximum and mean constriction velocity measured by automated pupillometry. The trial also investigates whether changes in pupil dynamics reflect subtle alterations in brainstem-autonomic interaction induced by ventilation mode. The comparison involves volume control, pressure control, and pressure-regulated volume control in a randomized crossover design to assess whether ventilation mode has a measurable effect on pupil response. Eligible participants will be intubated ICU patients receiving assist control ventilation who are not yet ready for spontaneous breathing trials. Serial pupillometry measurements will be conducted while participants are ventilated with each mode for at least 15 minutes. Sedation and lighting conditions will remain consistent throughout the protocol. Participants with acute or chronic neurologic conditions or ventilator dyssynchrony will be excluded.

This is a prospective, randomized, crossover study designed to evaluate the effect of different modes of mechanical ventilation on pupillary constriction velocity in critically ill patients. Recent data suggest that even in the absence of direct pulmonary or neurologic injury, mechanical ventilation with positive pressure may impact brain function, possibly through vagal-brainstem-autonomic pathways. These effects may be subtle and difficult to detect with standard neurological examination but may be reflected in changes in the dynamic pupillary light reflex. The pupillary light reflex (PLR), measured using automated infrared pupillometry, provides a quantitative, non-invasive assessment of brainstem and autonomic nervous system function. IThe investigators aim to determine whether the PLR, specifically, the mean and maximum constriction velocity, differs across three commonly used ventilation modes: Volume Control (VC), Pressure Control (PC), and Pressure-Regulated Volume Control (PRVC). All included participants will be mechanically ventilated, sedated, and not yet candidates for spontaneous breathing trials. Exclusion criteria include any acute or chronic neurologic disorder or signs of ventilator dyssynchrony. Sedation regimens (e.g., propofol, remifentanil, dexmedetomidine) will be kept constant during the study, and ambient light will remain unchanged. Each participant will undergo the three ventilation modes in a randomized order, with each mode applied for a minimum of 15 minutes to ensure washout before pupillometry measurements are performed. Physiological parameters such as respiratory rate, minute ventilation, FiO₂, heart rate, and mean arterial pressure will be recorded in parallel with pupil measurements. Blood gas analysis and full pupillometry data, including pupil size, constriction and dilation velocities, latency, and the Neurological Pupil Index (NPi), will also be collected. The primary outcome is the difference in maximum pupillary constriction velocity between ventilation modes. Secondary outcomes include mean constriction velocity, NPi, and other pupillary metrics. Based on pilot data, a total of 36 participants are required to detect a significant difference in the primary outcome. Statistical analysis will include repeated measures ANOVA or the Friedman test, with post hoc Wilcoxon Signed-Rank testing as appropriate. The findings of this study may provide support for the use of pupillometry as a tool to assess subtle CNS effects of mechanical ventilation and could support the theory of ventilation-brainstem interactions during mechanical ventilation.