Because animal studies have demonstrated that mechanical ventilation at high volume and pressure can be deleterious to the lungs, limitation of airway pressure, allowing hypercapnia if necessary, is already used for ventilation of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Whether a systematic and more drastic reduction is necessary is debatable. A multicenter randomized study was undertaken to compare a strategy aimed at limiting the end-inspiratory plateau pressure to 25 cm H2O, using tidal volume (VT) below 10 ml/kg of body weight, versus a more conventional ventilatory approach (with regard to current practice) using VT at 10 ml/kg or above and close to normal PaCO2. Both arms used a similar level of positive end-expiratory pressure. A total of 116 patients with ARDS and no organ failure other than the lung were enrolled over 32 mo in 25 centers. The two groups were similar at inclusion. Patients in the two arms were ventilated with different VT (7.1 +/- 1.3 versus 10.3 +/- 1.7 ml/kg at Day 1, p < 0.001) and plateau pressures (25.7 +/- 5. 0 versus 31.7 +/- 6.6 cm H2O at Day 1, p < 0.001), resulting in different PaCO2 (59.5 +/- 15.0 versus 41.3 +/- 7.6 mm Hg, p < 0.001) and pH (7.28 +/- 0.09 versus 7.4 +/- 0.09, p < 0.001), but a similar level of oxygenation. The new approach did not reduce mortality at Day 60 (46.6% versus 37.9% in control subjects, p = 0.38), the duration of mechanical ventilation (23.1 +/- 20.2 versus 21.4 +/- 16. 3 d, p = 0.85), the incidence of pneumothorax (14% versus 12%, p = 0. 78), or the secondary occurrence of multiple organ failure (41% versus 41%, p = 1). We conclude that no benefit could be observed with reduced VT titrated to reach plateau pressures around 25 cm H2O compared with a more conventional approach in which normocapnia was achieved with plateau pressures already below 35 cm H2O.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

TCT detects more chest injuries in trauma patients than does CXR and induces therapy changes in a considerable number of patients. However, this does not translate into an improvement in clinical outcomes.

This quasi-experiment study that alternative pressure air mattresses were more effective than alternating pressure air overlays in preventing pressure ulcers in mechanically ventilated critical care patients.

The 6-yr mortality of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring ICU admission is high. Mortality is mainly influenced by pre-ICU admission QOL. At 6 yrs, at least 15% are alive; survivors have a worse QOL compared with pre-ICU admission, although three quarters of them are self-sufficient.

This study analyzed the effect of both positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and reduction in tidal volume (VT) on extravascular lung water (EVLW) in a permeability model of pulmonary edema. Immediately after producing a pulmonary edema with oleic acid, 21 pigs were randomized into three groups. Group I (n = 8): PEEP of 0 cm H2O (ZEEP), VT of 12 ml/kg; Group II (n = 6): PEEP of 10 cm H2O, VT of 12 ml/kg; Group III (n = 7): PEEP of 10 cm H2O, VT of 6 ml/kg. EVLW was measured by the double indicator method (DI) at baseline (time 0) and after 30, 60, 120, 180, and 240 min and by the gravimetric method (G) at 240 min. Both methods correlated excellently (r = 0.94, p < 0.0001). EVLW-DI was significantly less with PEEP application (Group II versus Group I) at 180 min and thereafter. Likewise, EVLW-DI was less throughout the experimental period with reduced VT once PEEP was applied (Group III versus Group II). EVLW-G was less in Group II than in Group I at 16.3 +/- 2.7 and 23.2 +/- 4.2 ml/kg, respectively (p < 0.0001), and less in Group III than in Group II at 10.7 +/- 0.9 and 16.3 +/- 2.7 ml/kg (p < 0.0001). We conclude that early application of 10 cm H2O of PEEP reduces EVLW in permeability pulmonary edema. The lowering of VT reduced EVLW even further.