Effect of dynamic random leaks on the monitoring accuracy of home mechanical ventilators: a bench study

BACKGROUND: So far, the accuracy of tidal volume (VT) and leak measures provided by the built-in software of commercial home ventilators has only been tested using bench linear models with fixed calibrated and continuous leaks. The objective was to assess the reliability of the estimation of tidal volume (VT) and unintentional leaks in a single tubing bench model which introduces random dynamic leaks during inspiratory or expiratory phases. METHODS: The built-in software of four commercial home ventilators and a fifth ventilator-independent ad hoc designed external software tool were tested with two levels of leaks and two different models with excess leaks (inspiration or expiration). The external software analyzed separately the inspiratory and expiratory unintentional leaks. RESULTS: In basal condition, all ventilators but one underestimated tidal volume with values ranging between -1.5 ± 3.3% to -8.7% ± 3.27%. In the model with excess of inspiratory leaks, VT was overestimated by all four commercial software tools, with values ranging from 18.27 ± 7.05% to 35.92 ± 17.7%, whereas the ventilator independent-software gave a smaller difference (3.03 ± 2.6%). Leaks were underestimated by two applications with values of -11.47 ± 6.32 and -5.9 ± 0.52 L/min. With expiratory leaks, VT was overestimated by the software of one ventilator and the ventilator-independent software and significantly underestimated by the other three, with deviations ranging from +10.94 ± 7.1 to -48 ± 23.08%. The four commercial tools tested overestimated unintentional leaks, with values between 2.19 ± 0.85 to 3.08 ± 0.43 L/min. CONCLUSIONS: In a bench model, the presence of unintentional random leaks may be a source of error in the measurement of VT and leaks provided by the software of home ventilators. Analyzing leaks during inspiration and expiration separately may reduce this source of error

Potentially harmful effects of inspiratory synchronization during pressure preset ventilation

Purpose: Pressure preset ventilation (PPV) modes with set inspiratory time can be classified according to their ability to synchronize pressure delivery with patient's inspiratory efforts (i-synchronization). Non-i-synchronized (like airway pressure release ventilation, APRV), partially i-synchronized (like biphasic airway pressure), and fully i-synchronized modes (like assist-pressure control) can be distinguished. Under identical ventilatory settings across PPV modes, the degree of i-synchronization may affect tidal volume (V T), transpulmonary pressure (P TP), and their variability. We performed bench and clinical studies. Methods: In the bench study, all the PPV modes of five ventilators were tested with an active lung simulator. Spontaneous efforts of −10cmH2O at rates of 20 and 30breaths/min were simulated. Ventilator settings were high pressure 30cmH2O, positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) 15cmH2O, frequency 15breaths/min, and inspiratory to expiratory ratios (I:E) 1:3 and 3:1. In the clinical studies, data from eight intubated patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and ventilated with APRV were compared to the bench tests. In four additional ARDS patients, each of the PPV modes was compared. Results: As the degree of i-synchronization among the different PPV modes increased, mean V T and P TP swings markedly increased while breathing variability decreased. This was consistent with clinical comparison in four ARDS patients. Observational results in eight ARDS patients show low V T and a high variability with APRV. Conclusion: Despite identical ventilator settings, the different PPV modes lead to substantial differences in V T, P TP, and breathing variability in the presence spontaneous efforts. Clinicians should be aware of the possible harmful effects of i-synchronization especially when high V T is undesirabl

ARTERIOPATHIE DU CANNABIS : A PROPOS DE SIX NOUVEAUX CAS

Introduction: The responsibility for the cannabis in occurred of youthful tables of thromboangéites obliterating was evoked a few years ago. We report six new cases, with an aim of making a etiopathogenic and nosologic analysis bonds which exist between the disease of Léo Buerger and arteritis of cannabis. Materials and methods: It acts young men, presenting a table of distal arteriopathy of the lower limbs in four cases, of the upper limb for two patients. The appearance of the symptoms was progressive, the distal pulses were abolished, and the trophic disorders were constant. Two of the six patients presented a phenomenon of Raynaud, and none had of antecedent of venous thrombosis. The imagery objectified distal lesions in all the cases, a patient also presented a thrombosis proximale. The six patients had presented a regular intoxication by the cannabis for at least five years. Thanks to weaning and symptomatic measurements, the evolution was favorable initially among six patients. Two of them repeated at the time of the resumption of the intoxication, and the arteriopathy worsened leading to amputations of thigh in a case and to the level of trans-métatarsienne in a second case. Conclusion: In front of a distal arteriopathy of the young subject, it is important to evoke arteritis with the cannabis, the evolution of this affection seems to be conditioned by weaning.Introduction.- La responsabilité du cannabis dans la survenue de tableaux de thromboangéites oblitérantes juvéniles a été évoquée il y a quelques années. Nous rapportons six nouveaux cas, dans le but de faire une analyse étiopathogénique et nosologique des liens qui existent entre la maladie de Léo Buerger et l'artérite de cannabis. Matériels et méthodes: il s’agit d’hommes jeunes, présentant un tableau d’artériopathie distale des membres inférieurs dans quatre cas, du membre supérieur pour deux patients. L’apparition des symptômes a été progressive, les pouls distaux étaient abolis, et les troubles trophiques étaient constants. Deux des six patients présentaient un phénomène de Raynaud, et aucun n’avait d’antécédent de thrombose veineuse. L’imagerie objectivait des lésions distales dans tous les cas, un patient présentait également une thrombose proximale. Les six patients présentaient une intoxication régulière par le cannabis depuis au moins cinq ans. Grâce au sevrage et aux mesures symptomatiques, l’évolution a été favorable initialement chez six patients. Deux d’entre eux ont récidivé lors de la reprise de l’intoxication, et l’artériopathie s’est aggravé conduisant à des amputations de cuisse dans un cas et au niveau d'une trans-métatarsienne dans un deuxième cas. Conclusion.- Devant un artériopathie distale du sujet jeune, il est important d’évoquer l’artérite au cannabis, l’évolution de cette affection  semble être conditionnée par le sevrage

Year in review in Intensive Care Medicine 2010: III. ARDS and ALI, mechanical ventilation, noninvasive ventilation, weaning, endotracheal intubation, lung ultrasound and paediatrics

SCOPUS: re.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Imposed Work of Breathing During High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation in Spontaneously Breathing Neonatal and Pediatric Models.

High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) is used in cases of neonatal and pediatric acute respiratory failure, sometimes even as the primary ventilatory mode. Allowing patients (at least neonates) on HFOV to breathe spontaneously soon after intubation has been shown to be feasible, and this is becoming a more generally used approach for infants and small children. However, such an approach may increase the imposed work of breathing (WOB), raising the question of whether the imposed WOB varies with the use of newer-generation HFOV devices, which operate according to different functional principles. A bench test was designed to compare the pressure-time product (PTP), a surrogate marker of the imposed WOB, produced with the use of 7 HFOV devices. Scenarios corresponding to various age groups (preterm newborn [1 kg], term newborn [3.5 kg], infant [10 kg], and child [25 kg]) and 2 respiratory system conditions (physiologic and pathologic) were tested. The PTP varied between devices and increased with the oscillation frequency for all devices, independent of the respiratory system condition. Furthermore, the PTP increased with age and was higher for physiologic than for pathologic respiratory system conditions. We considered a change of ≥ 20% as being of clinically relevant; the effect of oscillation frequency was the most important parameter influencing imposed WOB during spontaneous breathing. Variations in imposed WOB, as expressed by PTP values, during spontaneous breathing depend mainly on the oscillator frequency, respiratory system condition, and, though to a lesser extent, on the device itself

TICT FLUORESCENCE OF PARA-SUBSTITUTED N,N-DIALKYLANILINES SOLUTIONS ORIGIN - TWISTED HYDROGEN-BONDED COMPLEX IN THE GROUND-STATE - ROLE OF WATER TRACES IMPURITIES IN SOLVENTS

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TICT FLUORESCENCE OF PARA-SUBSTITUTED N,N-DIALKYLANILINES SOLUTIONS ORIGIN - TWISTED HYDROGEN-BONDED COMPLEX IN THE GROUND-STATE - ROLE OF WATER TRACES IMPURITIES IN SOLVENTS

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Comparison Between Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist and Pressure Support Ventilation Levels in Terms of Respiratory Effort

OBJECTIVES: To understand the potential equivalence between neurally adjusted ventilatory assist and pressure support ventilation levels in terms of respiratory muscle unloading. To compare the respiratory pattern, variability, synchronization, and neuromuscular coupling within comparable ranges of assistance. DESIGN: Prospective single-center physiologic study. SETTING: A 13-bed university medical ICU. PATIENTS: Eleven patients recovering from respiratory failure. INTERVENTIONS: The following levels of assistance were consecutively applied in a random order: neurally adjusted ventilatory assist levels: 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, and 7 cm H2O/muvolt; pressure support levels: 7, 10, 15, 20, and 25 cm H2O. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Flow, airway pressure, esophageal pressures, and peak electrical activity of the diaphragm were continuously recorded. Breathing effort was calculated. To express the percentage of assist assumed by the ventilator, the total pressure including muscular and ventilator pressure was calculated. The median percentage of assist ranged from 33% (24-47%) to 82% (72-90%) between pressure support 7 and 25 cm H2O. Similar levels of unloading were observed for neurally adjusted ventilatory assist levels from 0.5 cm H2O/muvolt (46% [40-51%]) to 2.5 cm H2O/muvolt (80% [74-84%]). Tidal variability was higher during neurally adjusted ventilatory assist and ineffective efforts appeared only in pressure support. In neurally adjusted ventilatory assist, double triggering occurred sometimes when electrical activity of the diaphragm signal depicted a biphasic aspect, and an abnormal oscillatory pattern was frequently observed from 4 cm H2O/muvolt. For both modes, the relationship between peak electrical activity of the diaphragm and muscle pressure depicted a curvilinear profile. CONCLUSIONS: In patients recovering from acute respiratory failure, levels of neurally adjusted ventilatory assist between 0.5 and 2.5 cm H2O/muvolt are comparable to pressure support levels ranging from 7 to 25 cm H2O in terms of respiratory muscle unloading. Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist provides better patient-ventilator interactions but can be sometimes excessively sensitive to electrical activity of the diaphragm in terms of triggering

Water content of delivered gases during non-invasive ventilation in healthy subjects

INTRODUCTION: No clear recommendation exists concerning humidification during non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and high flow CPAP, and few hygrometric data are available. METHODS: We measured hygrometry during NIV delivered to healthy subjects with different humidification strategies: heated humidifier (HH), heat and moisture exchanger, (HME) or no humidification (NoH). For each strategy, a turbine and an ICU ventilator were used with different FiO(2) settings, with and without leaks. During CPAP, two different HH and NoH were tested. Inspired gases hygrometry was measured, and comfort was assessed. On a bench, we also assessed the impact of ambient air temperature, ventilator temperature and minute ventilation on HH performances (with NIV settings). RESULTS: During NIV, with NoH, gas humidity was very low when an ICU ventilator was used (5 mgH(2)O/l), but equivalent to ambient air hygrometry with a turbine ventilator at minimal FiO(2) (13 mgH(2)O/l). HME and HH had comparable performances (25-30 mgH(2)O/l), but HME's effectiveness was reduced with leaks (15 mgH(2)O/l). HH performances were reduced by elevated ambient air and ventilator output temperatures. During CPAP, dry gases (5 mgH(2)O/l) were less tolerated than humidified gases. Gases humidified at 15 or 30 mgH(2)O/l were equally tolerated. CONCLUSION: This study provides data on the level of humidity delivered with different humidification strategies during NIV and CPAP. HH and HME provide gas with the highest water content. Comfort data suggest that levels above 15 mgH(2)O/l are well tolerated. In favorable conditions, HH and HMEs are capable of providing such values, even in the presence of leaksINTRODUCTION: No clear recommendation exists concerning humidification during non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and high flow CPAP, and few hygrometric data are available. METHODS: We measured hygrometry during NIV delivered to healthy subjects with different humidification strategies: heated humidifier (HH), heat and moisture exchanger, (HME) or no humidification (NoH). For each strategy, a turbine and an ICU ventilator were used with different FiO(2) settings, with and without leaks. During CPAP, two different HH and NoH were tested. Inspired gases hygrometry was measured, and comfort was assessed. On a bench, we also assessed the impact of ambient air temperature, ventilator temperature and minute ventilation on HH performances (with NIV settings). RESULTS: During NIV, with NoH, gas humidity was very low when an ICU ventilator was used (5 mgH(2)O/l), but equivalent to ambient air hygrometry with a turbine ventilator at minimal FiO(2) (13 mgH(2)O/l). HME and HH had comparable performances (25-30 mgH(2)O/l), but HME's effectiveness was reduced with leaks (15 mgH(2)O/l). HH performances were reduced by elevated ambient air and ventilator output temperatures. During CPAP, dry gases (5 mgH(2)O/l) were less tolerated than humidified gases. Gases humidified at 15 or 30 mgH(2)O/l were equally tolerated. CONCLUSION: This study provides data on the level of humidity delivered with different humidification strategies during NIV and CPAP. HH and HME provide gas with the highest water content. Comfort data suggest that levels above 15 mgH(2)O/l are well tolerated. In favorable conditions, HH and HMEs are capable of providing such values, even in the presence of leaks