Mechanical power measurement during mechanical ventilation of SARS-CoV-2 critically ill patients. A cohort study

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) depends on the amount of energy per minute transferred by the ventilator to the lung measured in Joules, which is called mechanical power. Mechanical power is a development variable probably associated with outcomes in ventilated patients. Objective(s) To describe the value of mechanical power in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and ventilated for other causes and its relationship between days of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), and mortality. Method(s) A multicenter, analytical, observational cohort study was conducted in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection who required invasive mechanical ventilation and patients ventilated for other causes for more than 24 hours. Result(s) The cohort included 91 patients on mechanical ventilation in three tertiary care centers in the city of Pereira, Colombia. The average value of the mechanical power found was 22.7 +/- 1 Joules/min. In the subgroup of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, the value of mechanical power was higher 26.8 +/- 9 than in the subgroup of patients without a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection 18.2 +/- 1 (p <0.001). Conclusion(s) Mechanical power is an important variable to consider during the monitoring of mechanical ventilation. This study found an average value of mechanical power of 22.7 +/- 1 Joules/min, being higher in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection related to longer days of mechanical ventilation and a longer stay in the ICU. Copyright © 2022 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved.