Impact of positive end-expiratory pressure on the definition of acute respiratory distress syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
We examined whether PEEP during the first hours of ARDS can induce such a change in oxygenation that could mask fulfillment of the AECC criteria of a PaO(2)/FIO(2) </= 200 essential for ARDS diagnosis.


METHODS
Observational, prospective cohort in two medical-surgical ICU in teaching hospitals.


METHODS
48 consecutive patients who met AECC criteria of ARDS on 0 PEEP (ZEEP) at the moment of diagnosis.


RESULTS
PaO(2)/FIO(2) and lung mechanics were recorded on admission (0 h) to the ICU on ZEEP, and after 6, 12, and 24 h on PEEP levels selected by attending physicians. Lung Injury Score (LIS) was calculated at 0 and 24 h. PaO(2)/FIO(2) rose significantly from 121+/-45 on ZEEP at 0 h, to 234+/-85 on PEEP of 12.8+/-3.7 cmH(2)O after 24 h. LIS did not change significantly (2.34+/-0.53 vs. 2.42+/-0.62). These variables behaved similarly in pulmonary and extrapulmonary ARDS, and in survivors and nonsurvivors. After 24 h only 18 patients (38%) still had a PaO(2)/FIO(2) of 200 or lower. Their mortality was similar to that in the remaining patients (61% vs. 53%).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of PEEP improved oxygenation such that one-half of patients after 6 h, and most after 24 h did not fulfill AECC hypoxemia criteria of ARDS. However, LIS remained stable in the overall series. These results suggest that PEEP level should be taken into consideration for ARDS diagnosis.
Estenssoro
Elisa
E
Servicio de Terapia Intensiva, Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos General San Martín, 1900, la Plata, Argentina. adee@infovia.com.ar
Dubin
Arnaldo
A
Laffaire
Enrique
E
Canales
Héctor S
HS
Sáenz
Gabriela
G
Moseinco
Miriam
M
Bachetti
Pierina
P
D018806:APACHE; D000368:Aged; D000403:Airway Resistance; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008170:Lung Compliance; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013990:Tidal Volume; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010100:Oxygen