Homogenizing effect of PEEP on tidal volume distribution during neurally adjusted ventilatory assist: study of an animal model of acute respiratory distress syndrome

BACKGROUND: The physiological response and the potentially beneficial effects of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) for lung protection and optimization of ventilation during spontaneous breathing in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are not fully understood. The aim of the study was to compare the effect of different PEEP levels on tidal volume distribution and on the ventilation of dependent lung region during neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA). METHODS: ARDS-like lung injury was induced by using saline lavage in 10 anesthetized and spontaneously breathing farm-bred pigs. The animals were ventilated in NAVA modality and tidal volume distribution as well as dependent lung ventilation were assessed using electric impedance tomography during the application of PEEP levels from 0 to 15 cmH(2)0, in steps of 3 cmH(2)0. Tidal volume distribution and dependent fraction of ventilation were analysed using Wilcoxon signed rank test. Furthermore, airway, esophageal and transpulmonary pressure, as well as airway flow and delivered volume, were continuously measured during the assisted spontaneous breathing. RESULTS: Increasing PEEP improved oxygenation and re-distributed tidal volume. Specifically, ventilation distribution changed from a predominant non-dependent to a more even distribution between non-dependent and dependent areas of the lung. Dependent fraction of ventilation reached 47 ± 9% at PEEP 9 cmH(2)0. Further increasing PEEP led to a predominant dependent ventilation. CONCLUSION: During assisted spontaneous breathing in this model of induced ARDS, PEEP modifies the distribution of ventilation and can achieve a homogenizing effect on its spatial arrangement. The study indicates that PEEP is an important factor during assisted spontaneous breathing and that EIT can be of valuable interest when titrating PEEP level during spontaneous breathing, by indicating the most homogeneous distribution of gas volumes throughout the PEEP spectrum.