High flow nasal cannula and low level continuous positive airway pressure have different physiological effects during de novo acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.

Background: Large tidal volumes during de novo acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) may promote patient self-inflicted lung injury. Tidal volume assessment under high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is not routinely feasible at the bedside. Our objective was to determine whether tidal volume during low-level continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) could predict tidal volume during HFNC and to compare the physiological effects of HFNC and low-level CPAP.

Impact of cardiac output and alveolar ventilation in estimating ventilation/perfusion mismatch in ARDS using electrical impedance tomography.

Introduction: Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) can be used to assess ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) mismatch within the lungs. Several methods have been proposed, some of them neglecting the absolute value of alveolar ventilation (V) and cardiac output (Q). Whether this omission results in acceptable bias is unknown.

Potential of Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction Performed on Protected Telescope Catheter Samples for Early Adaptation of Antimicrobial Therapy in ARDS Patients.

Background: Diagnosis of co/superinfection in patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is challenging. The FilmArray Pneumonia plus Panel (bioMérieux, France), a new rapid multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (mPCR), has never been assessed on a blinded protected telescope catheter (PTC) samples, a very common diagnostic tool in patients under mechanical ventilation. We evaluated the performance of mPCR on PTC samples compared with conventional culture and its impact on antibiotic stewardship.