Changes in mean esophageal pressure during early recovery in mechanically-ventilated neonates--evidence for airway-closure and gas-trapping?
We studied transmission of a constant mean airway pressure through the lungs to the pleural space in nine mechanically-ventilated neonates with low-compliance lung disease. Infants were studied for 3.1 +/- 1.6 hr during a period of clinical improvement, but at a time when lung compliance was still markedly reduced. Two of our infants were studied during recovery from fluid overload, while seven infants with hyaline membrane disease were studied at a stage of disease during which maximal diuresis has been found to occur. During the study period, mean esophageal pressure decreased in all infants from 5.6 +/- 1.3 to 4.2 +/- 1.8 cm H2O (P less than 0.001) while total compliance increased slightly.
D004947:Esophagus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006819:Hyaline Membrane Disease / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008170:Lung Compliance; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000151:congenital; D011312:Pressure; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D012121:Respiration, Artificial