Lung Recruitment Assessed by Respiratory Mechanics and Computed Tomography in Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. What Is the Relationship?

Rationale: The assessment of lung recruitability in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) may be important for planning recruitment maneuvers and setting positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP).

Objectives: To determine whether lung recruitment measured by respiratory mechanics is comparable with lung recruitment measured by computed tomography (CT).

Methods: In 22 patients with ARDS, lung recruitment was assessed at 5 and 15 cm H2O PEEP by using respiratory mechanics-based methods: (1) increase in gas volume between two pressure-volume curves (P-Vrs curve); (2) increase in gas volume measured and predicted on the basis of expected end-expiratory lung volume and static compliance of the respiratory system (EELV-Cst,rs); as well as by CT scan: (3) decrease in noninflated lung tissue (CT [not inflated]); and (4) decrease in noninflated and poorly inflated tissue (CT [not + poorly inflated]).

Low-dose chest computed tomography for quantitative and visual anatomical analysis in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Purpose: Chest computed tomography (CT) is a fundamental tool for the characterization of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Its frequent use is, however, hindered by the associated radiation exposure. The aim of the present study was to evaluate, in patients with ARDS, the accuracy of quantitative and visual anatomical lung analysis performed on low-dose CT.

Limits of normality of quantitative thoracic CT analysis.

Introduction: Although computed tomography (CT) is widely used to investigate different pathologies, quantitative data from normal populations are scarce. Reference values may be useful to estimate the anatomical or physiological changes induced by various diseases.

Methods: We analyzed 100 helical CT scans taken for clinical purposes and referred as nonpathological by the radiologist.

Visual anatomical lung CT scan assessment of lung recruitability.

Purpose: The computation of lung recruitability in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is advocated to set positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) for preventing lung collapse. The quantitative lung CT scan, obtained by manual image processing, is the reference method but it is time consuming. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a visual anatomical analysis compared with a quantitative lung CT scan analysis in assessing lung recruitability.