Application of a computerised method to measure static pressure volume curve in acute respiratory distress syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the safety and the bedside feasibility of a new computerised method to record the static pressure-volume curves (Pst/V) of the respiratory system.


METHODS
The Pst/V curves were recorded in 13 medical patients with the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). During the Pst/V curve tracing the following parameters were recorded: time required for the recording and the automatic analysis of the Pst/V curve and modifications in electrocardiograms, blood pressure, and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)).


METHODS
The study was performed in the intensive care unit of the University of Naples "Federico II".


RESULTS
No statistically significant modifications in heart rate (HR, b min(-1)), blood pressure (BP, mmHg), and SaO(2) were observed between conditions at baseline (HR 97.2 +/- 17.7; BP 65.4 +/- 9.3; SaO(2) 93.6 +/- 2.0), during the recording (HR 99.8 +/- 19.5; BP 66.2 +/- 11.6; SaO(2) 93.7 +/- 2.4), and 2 min after the procedure (HR 98.2 +/- 17.8; BP 65.2 +/- 11.7; SaO(2) 93.7 +/- 1.9). The Pst/V curves were recorded in 8.38 +/- 1. 19 min and fully analysed in 2.69 +/- 0.85 min. Mean value of static compliance was 41.1 +/- 12.7 ml cmH(2)O(-1). A lower inflection point was found in ten patients (mean value 9.2 +/- 1.9 cmH(2)O).


CONCLUSIONS
In ARDS patients, the present new computerised method gave valuable data to ordinary intensivists and was shown to be safe, easy, and fast.
Servillo
G
G
Institute of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy. Servillo@iol.it
De Robertis
E
E
Coppola
M
M
Blasi
F
F
Rossano
F
F
Tufano
R
R
D018806:APACHE; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted