Time to Extubation Among ARDS Subjects With and Without COVID-19 Pneumonia.

Background: Pneumonia from COVID-19 that results in ARDS may require invasive mechanical ventilation. This retrospective study assessed the characteristics and outcomes of subjects with COVID-19-associated ARDS versus ARDS (non-COVID) during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The primary objective was to determine whether mechanical ventilation duration differed between these cohorts and identify other potential contributory factors.

Expiratory Pause Maneuver to Assess Inspiratory Muscle Pressure During Assisted Mechanical Ventilation: A Bench Study.

Background: The generation of excessive inspiratory muscle pressure (P) during assisted mechanical ventilation in patients with respiratory failure may result in acute respiratory muscle injury and/or fatigue, and exacerbate ventilator-induced lung injury. A readily available noninvasive surrogate measure of P may help in titrating both mechanical ventilation and sedation to minimize these risks. This bench study explored the feasibility and accuracy of using a ventilator's expiratory pause hold function to measure P across multiple operators.

Severity of Hypoxemia and Other Factors That Influence the Response to Aerosolized Prostacyclin in ARDS.

Background: ARDS is characterized by decreased functional residual capacity (FRC), heterogeneous lung injury, and severe hypoxemia. Tidal ventilation is preferentially distributed to ventilated alveoli. Aerosolized prostaglandin I exploits this pathophysiology by inducing local vasodilation, thereby increasing ventilation-perfusion matching and reducing hypoxemia.

A Comparison of Different Techniques for Interfacing Capnography With Adult and Pediatric Supplemental Oxygen Masks.

Background: Accurately measuring the partial pressure of end-tidal CO (P ) in non-intubated patients is problematic due to dilution of expired CO at high O flows and mask designs that may either cause CO rebreathing or inadequately capture expired CO. We evaluated the performance of 2 capnographic O masks (Cap-ONE and OxyMask) against a clinically expedient method using a standard O mask with a flow-directed nasal cannula used for capnography (CapnoLine) in a spontaneous breathing model of an adult and child under conditions of normal ventilation, hypoventilation, and hyperventilation.

Methods: An ASL-5000 simulator was attached to a manikin face with a catheter port, through which various CO/air mixtures were bled into the ASL-5000 to achieve a P of 40, 65, and 30 mm Hg.