Lung- and Diaphragm-Protective Ventilation by Titrating Inspiratory Support to Diaphragm Effort: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Heder J. de Vries, Annemijn H. Jonkman, Harm J. de Grooth, Jan Willem Duitman, Armand R.J. Girbes, Coen A.C. Ottenheijm, Marcus J. Schultz, Peter M. van de Ven, Yingrui Zhang, Angelique M.E. de Man, Pieter R. Tuinman, Leo M.A. Heunks

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Lung- and diaphragm-protective ventilation is a novel concept that aims to limit the detrimental effects of mechanical ventilation on the diaphragm while remaining within limits of lung-protective ventilation. The premise is that low breathing effort under mechanical ventilation causes diaphragm atrophy, whereas excessive breathing effort induces diaphragm and lung injury. In a proof-of-concept study, we aimed to assess whether titration of inspiratory support based on diaphragm effort increases the time that patients have effort in a predefined “diaphragm-protective” range, without compromising lung-protective ventilation. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Mixed medical-surgical ICU in a tertiary academic hospital in the Netherlands. PATIENTS: Patients (n = 40) with respiratory failure ventilated in a partially-supported mode. INTERVENTIONS: In the intervention group, inspiratory support was titrated hourly to obtain transdiaphragmatic pressure swings in the predefined “diaphragm-protective” range (3–12 cm H2O). The control group received standard-of-care. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Transdiaphragmatic pressure, transpulmonary pressure, and tidal volume were monitored continuously for 24 hours in both groups. In the intervention group, more breaths were within “diaphragm-protective” range compared with the control group (median 81%; interquartile range [64–86%] vs 35% [16–60%], respectively; p < 0.001). Dynamic transpulmonary pressures (20.5 ± 7.1 vs 18.5 ± 7.0 cm H2O; p = 0.321) and tidal volumes (7.56 ± 1.47 vs 7.54 ± 1.22 mL/kg; p = 0.961) were not different in the intervention and control group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Titration of inspiratory support based on patient breathing effort greatly increased the time that patients had diaphragm effort in the predefined “diaphragm-protective” range without compromising tidal volumes and transpulmonary pressures. This study provides a strong rationale for further studies powered on patient-centered outcomes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)192-203
Number of pages12
JournalCritical care medicine
Volume50
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Critical illness
  • Diaphragm
  • Esophageal pressure measurement
  • Mechanical ventilation
  • Work of breathing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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