Ability and safety of a heated humidifier to control hypercapnic acidosis in severe ARDS.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the ability of a heated humidifier to improve CO(2) clearance in ARDS patients submitted to protective ventilation.


METHODS
Prospective clinical study.


METHODS
University hospital intensive care unit.


METHODS
During a 12-month period, we studied 11 ARDS patients under protective mechanical ventilation with severe hypercapnia.


METHODS
When PaCO(2) was above 55 mmHg, the heat and moisture exchanger (HME) was removed and patients were ventilated using a heated humidifier (HH) until their recovery or death. The heated humidifier was inserted on the inspiratory limb of the respirator and the inspirated air was saturated to achieve a temperature of 40 degrees C at the Y connector of ventilator tubing and of 37 degrees C at the outlet of the endotracheal tube.


RESULTS
Mechanical measurements and blood gas analysis were performed just before removal of the HME, and 30 min after mechanical ventilation using HH. Ventilator parameters were kept constant in the two conditions. Using HH instead of HME, PaCO(2) was safely decreased by 11+/-5 mmHg, without any need to change respiratory rate. No significant difference was noted in intrinsic PEEP or airway plateau pressure. Decrease in PaCO(2) after HME removal was strongly correlated with the initial value of PaCO(2).


CONCLUSIONS
Supposing there is an interest in correcting or limiting hypercapnic acidosis in ARDS patients submitted to protective ventilation, HME removal and use of HH appears to be an efficient and safe way of increasing CO(2) clearance.
Prin
Sebastian
S
Medical Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Ambroise Paré, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, 9 avenue Charles de Gaulle, 92104, Boulogne, France.
Chergui
Karim
K
Augarde
Rock
R
Page
Bernard
B
Jardin
François
F
Vieillard-Baron
Antoine
A
D000142:Acidosis, Respiratory / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D006935:Hypercapnia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome