• M Kiehl, C Schiele, W Stenzinger, and J Kienast.
• Department of Internal Medicine, University of Muenster, Germany.
• Crit. Care Med. 1996 May 1;24(5):780-4.

ObjectiveTo study comparatively the effects of volume-controlled vs. biphasic positive airway pressure mechanical ventilation on respiratory mechanics and oxygenation in leukopenic patients with severe respiratory failure.DesignProspective, comparative study.SettingMedical intensive care unit of a university hospital.PatientsLeukopenic (<1000 leukocytes/microliter) patients (n=20) after cytoreductive chemotherapy requiring mechanical ventilation for severe respiratory failure (Murray score of > 2.5).InterventionPatients were assigned in a consecutive, alternating manner to receive either volume-controlled or biphasic positive airway pressure mechanical ventilation, starting within 12 to 24 hrs after endotracheal intubation.Measurements And Main ResultsTidal volume, inspiratory flow, peak inspiratory and positive end-expiratory pressures, FIO2, and arterial blood gas analyses were recorded hourly for a study period of 48 hrs. Biphasic positive airway pressure ventilation was associated with a significant reduction in peak inspiratory pressure (mean differences at 24, 36, and 48 hrs: 4.4, 3.4, and 4.2 cm H2O; p = .024, .019, and .013, respectively) and positive end-expiratory pressures (mean differences at 24, 36, and 48 hrs: 1.6, 1.4, and 1.5 cm H20; p = .023, .024, and .023, respectively) at significantly lower FIO2 (mean differences at 12, 24, 36, and 48 hrs; p = .007, .015, .016, and .011, respectively). PaO2/FIO2 ratios and CO2 removal were similar under ventilatory conditions.ConclusionsBiphasic positive airway pressure ventilation offers the advantage of significantly reduced peak inspiratory and positive end-expiratory pressures at a lower FIO2 and with at least similar oxygenation and CO2 removal as achieved by volume-controlled mechanical ventilation. Our results are in line with previous reports on nonleukopenic patients and suggest that the positive effects of pressure-limited mechanical ventilation are independent of circulating white blood cells. Further studies are mandatory to demonstrate clinical benefit in this critically ill patient population.

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