Predicting dead space ventilation in critically ill patients using clinically available data.
OBJECTIVE
To develop and validate an equation to predict dead space to tidal volume ratio (Vd/Vt) from clinically available data in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients.


METHODS
Prospective, observational study using a convenience sample of patients whose arterial blood gas and respiratory gas exchange had been measured with indirect calorimetry.


METHODS
Medical and surgical critical care units of a university medical center.


METHODS
Adult, mechanically ventilated patients at rest with Fio2 < or =0.60 and no air leaks who had recent arterial blood gas recordings and end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration monitoring.


METHODS
Observational only.


RESULTS
Indirect calorimetry was used to determine carbon dioxide production and expired minute ventilation in 135 patients. Tidal volume and respiratory rate were recorded from the ventilator. End tidal carbon dioxide concentration, body temperature, arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (Paco2), and other clinical data were recorded. Vd/Vt was calculated using the Enghoff modification of the Bohr equation (Paco2 - PECO2/Paco2). Regression analysis was then used to construct a predictive equation for Vd/Vt using the clinical data: Vd/Vt = 0.32 + 0.0106 (Paco2 - ETCO2) + 0.003 (RR) + 0.0015 (age) (R = 0.67). A second group of 50 patients was measured using the same protocol and their data were used to validate the equations developed from the original 135 patients. The equation was found to be unbiased and precise.


CONCLUSIONS
Vd/Vt is predictable from clinically available data. Whether this predicted quantity is valuable clinically must still be determined.
Frankenfield
David C
DC
Department of Clinical Nutrition, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA. Dfrankenfield@hmc.psu.edu
Alam
Shoaib
S
Bekteshi
Edgar
E
Vender
Robert L
RL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D019296:Capnography; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011336:Probability; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D012126:Respiratory Dead Space / Q000502:physiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013990:Tidal Volume; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D002245:Carbon Dioxide