BACKGROUND Protective lung ventilation is recommended in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) to minimize additional injuries to the lung. However, hypercapnic acidosis resulting from ventilation at lower tidal volume enhances pulmonary hypertension and might induce right ventricular (RV) failure. We investigated if extracorporeal veno-venous CO2 removal therapy could have b...

Spine stability is ensured through isometric coactivation of the torso muscles; however, these same muscles are used cyclically to assist ventilation. Our objective was to investigate this apparent paradoxical role (isometric contraction for stability or rhythmic contraction for ventilation) of some selected torso muscles that are involved in both ventilation and support of the spine. Eight, as...

INTRODUCTION Managing ventilation and oxygenation during laparoscopic procedures in severely obese patients undergoing weight loss surgery presents many challenges. Pressure-controlled ventilation, volume-guaranteed (PCV-VG) is a dual-control mode of ventilation and an alternative to pressure (PC) or volume (VC) controlled ventilation. PCV-VG features a user-selected tidal volume target, that i...

Repeated pulmonary collapse and changes suggestive of a severe alveolar-capillary diffusion defect were observed over a period of 20 days in a patient who was receiving artificial ventilation because of status epilepticus. Profound cyanosis followed attempts to discontinue assisted ventilation. The Bird Mark 8 respirator employed was found to be delivering approximately 90% oxygen on the air-mi...

We present a case of impassable subglottic stenosis scheduled for tracheal resection and reconstruction managed by establishing a supraglottic airway. Despite careful preoperative evaluation, the stenosis was localized higher than anticipated, rendering conventional intubation impossible. Laryngeal mask bridging to cross-field ventilation was feasible and jet ventilation and cardiopulmonary byp...

Mechanical ventilation (MV) is routinely used in pediatric general anesthesia and critical care, but may adversely affect the cardiocirculatory system. Biomarkers are increasingly measured to assess cardiovascular status and improve clinical treatment decision-making. As the impact of mechanical ventilation strategies on cardiovascular biomarkers in ventilated infants is largely unknown, we con...

OBJECTIVE Respiratory muscle endurance of able-bodied persons, assessed by normocapnic hyperpnoea at 70% of their maximal voluntary ventilation, usually ranges from 10 to 20 minutes. The aim of this study was to determine the level of ventilation that patients with paraplegia and tetraplegia can sustain for 10-20 minutes to later be used as the guideline for respiratory muscle endurance trainin...

Mechanical ventilation is a life-saving intervention for respiratory failure and thus has become the cornerstone of the practice of critical care medicine. A mechanical ventilation mode describes the predetermined pattern of patient-ventilator interaction. In recent years there has been a dizzying proliferation of mechanical ventilation modes, driven by technological advances and market pressur...