Analysis of atelectasis, ventilated, and hyperinflated lung during mechanical ventilation by dynamic CT

Study objective: To study, the dynamics of lung compartments by dynamic CT (dCT) imaging during uninterrupted pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) and different positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) settings in healthy and damaged lungs. Design: Experimental animal investigation. Setting: Experimental animal facility of a university department. Interventions: In seven anesthetized pigs, static inspiratory pressure volume curves were obtained to identify the individual lower inflection point (LIP) before and after saline solution lung lavage. During PCV, PEEP was adjusted 5 millibars (mbar) below the individually determined LIP (LIP - 5), at the LIP, and 5 mbar above the LIP (LIP + 5). Measurements and results: Measurements were repeated before and after induction of lung damage. Hemodynamics, arterial and mixed venous blood gases, and dCT imaging in one juxtadiaphragmatic slice (effective temporal resolution of 100 MS) were assessed during uninterrupted PCV in series of three successive respiratory cycles. The mean fractional area (FA) of the hyperinflated lung (FA-H), mean FA of ventilated lung, mean FA of poorly, ventilated lung, and mean FA of nonventilated lung (FA-NV), and the change in FA of the whole lung area (Delta FA) were compared at different PEEP settings. Calculated pulmonary shunt (Qs/Qt) was compared to FA-NV. LIP + 5 decreased the amount of atelectasis (FA-NV) and increased hyperinflation (FA-H) in healthy and injured lungs. Cyclic changes of atelectasis (Delta FA-NV) and hyperinflation (Delta FA-H) were observed in both healthy and injured lungs. In the injured but not in the healthy lungs, the amount of cyclic changes of atelectasis and hyperinflation were independent from the adjusted PEEP level. FA-NV correlated with the calculated Qs/Qt, with a slight overestimation (mean +/- SEM, 2.1 +/- 4.1%). Conclusions: dCT imaging allows the following: (1) the quantification of the extent of atelectasis, ventilated, poorly ventilated, and hyperinflated lung parenchyma during ongoing mechanical ventilation; (2) the detection and quantification of repeated recruitment and derecruitment, as well as hyperinflation; and (3) an estimation of Qs/Qt. dCT adds promising functional information for the respiratory treatment of early ARDS.