Capnodynamic monitoring of lung volume and blood flow in response to increased positive end-expiratory pressure in moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia: an observational study

BACKGROUND: The optimal level of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) during mechanical ventilation for COVID-19 pneumonia remains debated and should ideally be guided by responses in both lung volume and perfusion. Capnodynamic monitoring allows both end-expiratory lung volume ([Formula: see text] ) and effective pulmonary blood flow (EPBF) to be determined at the bedside with ongoing ventilation. METHODS: Patients with COVID-19-related moderate to severe respiratory failure underwent capnodynamic monitoring of [Formula: see text] and EPBF during a step increase in PEEP by 50% above the baseline (PEEP(low) to PEEP(high)). The primary outcome was a > 20 mm Hg increase in arterial oxygen tension to inspired fraction of oxygen (P/F) ratio to define responders versus non-responders. Secondary outcomes included changes in physiological dead space and correlations with independently determined recruited lung volume and the recruitment-to-inflation ratio at an instantaneous, single breath decrease in PEEP. Mixed factor ANOVA for group mean differences and correlations by Pearson’s correlation coefficient are reported including their 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Of 27 patients studied, 15 responders increased the P/F ratio by 55 [24–86] mm Hg compared to 12 non-responders (p < 0.01) as PEEP(low) (11 ± 2.7 cm H(2)O) was increased to PEEP(high) (18 ± 3.0 cm H(2)O). The [Formula: see text] was 461 [82–839] ml less in responders at PEEP(low) (p = 0.02) but not statistically different between groups at PEEP(high). Responders increased both [Formula: see text] and EPBF at PEEP(high) (r = 0.56 [0.18–0.83], p = 0.03). In contrast, non-responders demonstrated a negative correlation (r = − 0.65 [− 0.12 to − 0.89], p = 0.02) with increased lung volume associated with decreased pulmonary perfusion. Decreased (− 0.06 [− 0.02 to − 0.09] %, p < 0.01) dead space was observed in responders. The change in [Formula: see text] correlated with both the recruited lung volume (r = 0.85 [0.69–0.93], p < 0.01) and the recruitment-to-inflation ratio (r = 0.87 [0.74–0.94], p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In mechanically ventilated patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 respiratory failure, improved oxygenation in response to increased PEEP was associated with increased end-expiratory lung volume and pulmonary perfusion. The change in end-expiratory lung volume was positively correlated with the lung volume recruited and the recruitment-to-inflation ratio. This study demonstrates the feasibility of capnodynamic monitoring to assess physiological responses to PEEP at the bedside to facilitate an individualised setting of PEEP. Trial registration: NCT05082168 (18th October 2021). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13054-022-04110-0.