Comparative analysis of respiratory system compliance in three different positions (lateral, supine and sitting) of patients on long-term invasive mechanical ventilation

An important aspect that must be assessed before ventilator weaning is compliance of the respiratory system, because mechanical ventilation weaning may be impaired by the patient’s poor pulmonary condition.1,2 Compliance of the respiratory system is defined as the slope of the pressure-volume curve or the volume variation per unit of pressure change. The lungs and chest are formed by tissue with elastic properties, therefore compliance of the respiratory system is a measure of its elasticity and resistance to deformation by any force represented by variable degrees of effort.3 Compliance of the respiratory system may be measured with the patient Elias Ferreira Porto1, Antonio Adolfo Matos de Castro2, José Renato de Oliveira Leite3, Saul Vitoriano Miranda4, Auristela Lancauth4, Claudia Kumpel5