• S Lindgren, H Odenstedt, K Erlandsson, C Grivans, S Lundin, and O Stenqvist.
• Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden. sophie.lindgren@vgregion.se
• Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2008 Feb 1; 52 (2): 209-18.

ObjectiveTo assess lung volume changes during and after bronchoscopic suctioning during volume or pressure-controlled ventilation (VCV or PCV).DesignBench test and patient study.ParticipantsVentilator-treated acute lung injury (ALI) patients.SettingUniversity research laboratory and general adult intensive care unit of a university hospital.InterventionsBronchoscopic suctioning with a 12 or 16 Fr bronchoscope during VCV or PCV.Measurements And ResultsSuction flow at vacuum levels of -20 to -80 kPa was measured with a Timeter(trade mark) instrument. In a water-filled lung model, airway pressure, functional residual capacity (FRC) and tidal volume were measured during bronchoscopic suctioning. In 13 ICU patients, a 16 Fr bronchoscope was inserted into the left or the right main bronchus during VCV or PCV and suctioning was performed. Ventilation was monitored with electric impedance tomography (EIT) and FRC with a modified N(2) washout/in technique. Airway pressure was measured via a pressure line in the endotracheal tube. Suction flow through the 16 Fr bronchoscope was 5 l/min at a vacuum level of -20 kPa and 17 l/min at -80 kPa. Derecruitment was pronounced during suctioning and FRC decreased with -479+/-472 ml, P<0.001.ConclusionsSuction flow through the bronchoscope at the vacuum levels commonly used is well above minute ventilation in most ALI patients. The ventilator was unable to deliver enough volume in either VCV or PCV to maintain FRC and tracheal pressure decreased below atmospheric pressure.

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