Continuous estimation of respiratory system compliance and airway resistance during pressure-controlled ventilation without end-inspiration occlusion.

Background: Assessing mechanical properties of the respiratory system (C) during mechanical ventilation necessitates an end-inspiration flow of zero, which requires an end-inspiratory occlusion maneuver. This lung model study aimed to observe the effect of airflow obstruction on the accuracy of respiratory mechanical properties during pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) by analyzing dynamic signals.

Methods: A Hamilton C3 ventilator was attached to a lung simulator that mimics lung mechanics in healthy, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) models. PCV and volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) were applied with tidal volume (V) values of 5.0, 7.0, and 10.0 ml/kg. Performance characteristics and respiratory mechanics were assessed and were calibrated by virtual extrapolation using expiratory time constant (RC).

Results: During PCV ventilation, drive pressure (DP) was significantly increased in the ARDS model. Peak inspiratory flow (PIF) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) gradually declined with increasing severity of airflow obstruction, while DP, end-inspiration flow (EIF), and inspiratory cycling ratio (EIF/PIF%) increased. Similar estimated values of C and airway resistance (R) during PCV and VCV ventilation were obtained in healthy adult and mild obstructive models, and the calculated errors did not exceed 5%. An underestimation of C and an overestimation of R were observed in the severe obstruction model.

Conclusion: Using the modified dynamic signal analysis approach, respiratory system properties (C and R) could be accurately estimated in patients with non-severe airflow obstruction in the PCV mode.