title: Lung mechanical profiles in acute respiratory failure: diagnostic and prognostic value of compliance at different tidal volumes.
abstract: The mean airway pressure difference within a respiratory cycle at end-inspiration was measured at different tidal volumes (VT) in 59 patients treated with mechanical ventilation, and plotted in a pressure-volume (P-V) diagram. Regression analysis revealed three types of regression lines which were clearly correlated with clinical pulmonary condition and outcome. The slope of such regression lines may be a more realistic representation of lung elasticity than conventional total static compliance, which is measured at only one VT, and the intercept of these lines may be a more appropriate reflection of operating lung volume than functional residual capacity. Ventilator settings should put the patient's lungs on the steepest part of the P-V curve with the smallest intercept, while maintaining acceptable arterial blood gas tensions.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008170:Lung Compliance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013990:Tidal Volume
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen