ABSTRACT
Introduction: Mechanical ventilation is essential in intensive care unit [ICU] patients who are unable to maintain adequate gas exchange without support. Different ventilation modalities have been introduced to imitate normal respiratory pattern but there are some disadvantages in each modality. The aim of present study was to compare the cardiopulmonary and airway pressure changes in ICU patients undergoing pressure controlled ventilation [PCV], one of the basic modalities with airway pressure release ventilation [APRV], an advanced ventilation mode which allows spontaneous breathing in any time of respiratory cycle
Materials and Methods: In this cross over study, 18 patients were randomized to receive either PCV or APRV ventilation for 30 minutes then after washout period, switched to another group. Cardiopulmonary and arterial blood gas variables and airway pressure were recorded prior to study and after 30 minutes of starting each modalities and compared between groups
Results: Airway pressure were significantly higher in APRV mode [9.3 +/- 3.3 vs. 6.9 +/- 1.5, p=0.044 in PCV group and 9.1 +/- 3.4 vs. 6.6 +/- 1.4, p=0.021 in APRV group] and arterial blood gas in PCV mode was insignificantly higher than APRV mode in both protocols. There was no significant difference in other cardiopulmonary variables
Conclusion: This study has shown no hemodynamic change's difference due to two studied protocol. The mean airway pressure in APRV mode was more than PCV mode with lower arterial blood O2 pressure in both protocols