Efficacy of alveolar recruitment maneuvers in patients with complicated thoracic trauma.

The objective of this study was to measure the efficacy of biphasic positive airway pressure (BIPAP) and synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) with alveolar recruitment maneuvers (ARMs) in patients with acute lung injury (ALI) and concomitant pneumothorax. Seventy-four patients with ALI and concomitant pneumothorax secondary to blunt thoracic injury were studied. All patients fulfilled criteria for the first stage of acute respiratory distress syndrome, which consisted of acute onset dyspnea, isolated rales, an extravascular lung water index >7 mL/kg, and an oxygenation index <300 mm Hg in the absence of left-ventricular dysfunction. After evacuation of the pneumothorax, ARMs were performed using BIPAP or SIMV 3 to 5 times a day with a peak pressure of 33.4 ± 0.2 cm H(2)O and a positive end-expiratory pressure of 16.1 ± 0.2 cm H(2)O. The use of BIPAP in patients with ALI and concomitant pneumothorax reduced the time to resolution of the air leak allowing application of earlier ARMs. ARMs with peak pressures of 35 to 40 cm H(2)O effectively improved oxygenation and biomechanical properties of the lungs and did not cause pneumothorax relapse. In conclusion, BIPAP allowed for spontaneous ventilation during the breathing cycle and limited P (peak). Its use was associated with more rapid sealing of air leaks with the ability to conduct earlier ARMs. The use of BIPAP compared with SIMV improved outcome in the presence of complex thoracic trauma.