The management ARDS relies on ventilatory strategies aimed at limiting ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). The setting of PEEP is still subject of debate, as randomized clinical trials comparing standardized higher versus lower PEEP strategies failed to demonstrate a clear survival advantage. Only few studies explored the hemodynamic effects of various PEEP levels depending on lung recruitability. Furthermore, the role of PEEP-mediated lung collapse and overdistention on patients' hemodynamics has yet to be elucidated. In this physiologic study, the association between EIT-measured lung collapse and overdistention and cardiac function will be explored, accounting for the individual potential for lung recruitment, partitioned respiratory mechanics and cardiac preload responsiveness. Three PEEP levels will be tested in a randomized, crossover fashion: PEEP corresponding to the crossing point between lung collapse and overdistention, PEEP associated with low lung collapse, PEEP associated with low lung overdistention.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
20
Patients will undergo a decremental PEEP trial to determine the crossing-point PEEP. Secondly, three PEEP levels (low collapse PEEP, low overdistention PEEP and crossing point between lung collapse and overdistention PEEP) will be compared in a randomized order with 30-minute steps
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A.Gemelli IRCCS
Rome, Rome, Italy
Impact of lung collapse on cardiac output
Evaluation of the relative contribution of lung collapse (arbitrary units) on patients' cardiac output at different PEEP levels (L/min)
Time frame: Assesment performed at the end of each of the three 30 minute steps
Impact of lung collapse on pulmonary vascular resistance
Evaluation of the relative contribution of lung collapse (arbitrary units) on pulmonary vascular resistance (dyn·s/cm\^5) at different PEEP levels
Time frame: Assesment performed at the end of each of the three 30 minute steps
Impact of lung overdistention on cardiac output
Evaluation of the relative contribution of lung overdistention (arbitrary units) on patients' cardiac output at different PEEP levels (L/min)
Time frame: Assesment performed at the end of each of the three 30 minute steps
Impact of lung overdistention on pulmonary vascular resistance
Evaluation of the relative contribution of lung overdistention (arbitrary units) on pulmonary vascular resistance (dyn·s/cm\^5) at different PEEP levels
Time frame: Assesment performed at the end of each of the three 30 minute steps
Correlation between potential for lung recruitment and PEEP-induced changes in cardiac output
The effects of PEEP on cardiac output (mL/min) will be correlated through Pearson correlations with the individual potential for lung recruitment, as determined by the recruitment-to-inflation ratio (R/I)
Time frame: Assessment at the end of each of the three 30 minute steps
Correlation between potential for lung recruitment and PEEP-induced changes in pulmonary vascular resistance
The effects of PEEP on pulmonary vascular resistance (dyn·s/cm\^5) will be correlated through Pearson correlations with the individual potential for lung recruitment, as determined by the recruitment-to-inflation ratio (R/I)
Time frame: Assesment performed at the end of each of the three 30 minute steps
PEEP-induced effects on cardiac output in cardiac preload responsive vs. nonresponsive patients
The effects of PEEP on cardiac output (L/min) will be compared through subgroup comparisons (student t-test) in patients who are preload responsive and patients who are not (preload responsiveness assessed through pulse-pressure variation, expressed in %)
Time frame: Assesment performed at the end of each of the three 30 minute steps
PEEP-induced effects on pulmonary vascular resistance in cardiac preload responsive vs. nonresponsive patients
The effects of PEEP on pulmonary vascular resistance (dyn·s/cm\^5) will be compared through subgroup comparisons (student t-test) in patients who are preload responsive and patients who are not (preload resposnsiveness assessed through pulse-pressure variation, expressed in %)
Time frame: Assesment performed at the end of each of the three 30 minute steps
Relationship between transpulmonary pressures and central venous pressure variations
The relationship between transpulmonary pressure variations (cmH2O) and central venous pressure variations (cmH2O) between PEEP levels will be assessed through Pearson correlations
Time frame: At the end of each of the three 30 minute steps
Lung hysteresis
Lung hysteresis will be assessed at each of the tested PEEP levels and expressed as the area of the pressure-volume loop of the respiratory system obtained with a low-flow inflation/deflation maneuver from PEEP to a pressure of 30 cmH2O, in mL\*cmH2O
Time frame: At the end of each of the three 30 minute steps
Lung aeration distribution
Lung aeration distribution at each PEEP level tested will be assessed with electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and expressed as dorsal fraction of ventilation (% of total tidal volume)
Time frame: At the end of each of the three 30 minute steps
Relationship between PEEP-induced changes in lung volume and PEEP-induced changes in pulmonary vascular resistance
The effects of PEEP on pulmonary vascular resistance (dyn·s/cm\^5) will be correlated through Pearson correlations with the individual PEEP-induced changes in lung volume (mL)
Time frame: Assesment performed at the end of each of the three 30 minute steps
Relationship between PEEP-induced changes in lung volume and PEEP-induced changes in cardiac output
The effects of PEEP cardiac output (L/min) will be correlated through Pearson correlations with the individual PEEP-induced changes in lung volume (mL)
Time frame: Assesment performed at the end of each of the three 30 minute steps
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