Impact of positive end-expiratory pressure on cerebral injury patients with hypoxemia.
BACKGROUND
Traumatic brain injury or intracranial hemorrhage patients with acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome need mechanical ventilation. The use of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in this situation remains controversial. This study explored the impact of PEEP on intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), central venous pressure (CVP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in cerebral injury patients.


METHODS
Nine cerebral injury patients with lung injury who needed mechanical ventilation and met the criteria for ICP monitoring were included in this study. Intraventricular catheters were positioned in 1 of the bilateral ventricles and connected to pressure transducers. Invasive arterial pressure and CVP were monitored continuously. Pressure control ventilation was applied during this clinical trial in a stepwise recruitment maneuver (RM) with 3 cm H₂O intermittent increments and decrements of PEEP.


RESULTS
A total of 28 RMs were completed in 9 patients. Mean values of MAP, CVP, ICP, and CPP 5 minutes after RMs showed no significant differences compared with baseline (P > 0.05). Correlation analysis of all the mean values of MAP, CVP, ICP, and CPP showed significant correlation between MAP and CPP, PEEP and CVP, PEEP and ICP, and PEEP and CPP with all P values less than 0.05.


CONCLUSIONS
The impact of PEEP on blood pressure, ICP, and CPP varies greatly in cerebral injury patients. Mean arterial pressure and ICP monitoring is of benefit when using PEEP in cerebral injury patients with hypoxemia.
Zhang
Xiang-Yu
XY
Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China. xiangyu62@126.com
Yang
Zi-Jian
ZJ
Wang
Qi-Xing
QX
Fan
Hai-Rong
HR
D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002496:Central Venous Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D055815:Young Adult