Measurement of respiratory system resistance during mechanical ventilation.
BACKGROUND
The measurement of respiratory system resistance during mechanical ventilation is important to ascertain the causes of increase in airway pressure during volume-controlled ventilation, which may include airways resistance and decreased respiratory system compliance.


CONCLUSIONS
Separation of total resistance from compliance of the respiratory system can be assessed by the end-inspiratory hold maneuver that separates peak pressure from plateau pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
Although this method assumes a homogeneous respiratory system, it has proven useful clinically to separate flow-dependence issues such as bronchospasm or endotracheal tube obstruction from stiff lungs (acute lung injury) or decrease chest wall (abdominal distension) compliance.
Guerin
Claude
C
Hôpital de la Croix Rousse and Université de Lyon, Service de Réanimation Médicale, 103 Grande Rue de la Croix Rousse, 69004 Lyon, France. claude.guerin@chu-lyon.fr
Richard
Jean-Christophe
JC
D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology; D012137:Respiratory System