Martijn Miedema

Changes in Lung Volume and Ventilation during Lung Recruitment in High-Frequency Ventilated Preterm Infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome

OBJECTIVES To assess global and regional changes in lung volume and ventilation during lung recruitment in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome. STUDY DESIGN Using electrical impedance tomography, changes in lung volume and ventilation were measured in 15 high-frequency oscillatory ventilated preterm infants during oxygenation-guided recruitment maneuvers. The inflation and deflation limbs were mapped, and the lower and upper inflection points were calculated using both oxygenation and impedance data. The impedance data were also used to determine recruitment-related changes in oscillation volume and distribution. RESULTS During inflation, lower and upper inflection points were identified in the majority of infants. The deflation limb showed clear lung hysteresis in all infants. The upper inflection point was significantly lower when comparing the pressure/oxygenation and pressure/impedance curves. Lung volume changes differed between the ventral and dorsal regions, but did not show a consistent pattern. Optimal recruitment increased the oscillation volume, but the distribution of ventilation was relatively homogeneous along the ventral-dorsal axis. CONCLUSIONS Lung hysteresis is present in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome. Regional differences in lung volume changes and ventilation during high-frequency oscillatory ventilation with lung recruitment are relatively modest and do not follow a gravity-dependent distribution.

Clinical prediction models for bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a systematic review and external validation study

BackgroundBronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common complication of preterm birth. Very different models using clinical parameters at an early postnatal age to predict BPD have been developed with little extensive quantitative validation. The objective of this study is to review and validate clinical prediction models for BPD.MethodsWe searched the main electronic databases and abstracts from annual meetings. The STROBE instrument was used to assess the methodological quality. External validation of the retrieved models was performed using an individual patient dataset of 3229 patients at risk for BPD. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess discrimination for each model by calculating the area under the curve (AUC). Calibration was assessed for the best discriminating models by visually comparing predicted and observed BPD probabilities.ResultsWe identified 26 clinical prediction models for BPD. Although the STROBE instrument judged the quality from moderate to excellent, only four models utilised external validation and none presented calibration of the predictive value. For 19 prediction models with variables matched to our dataset, the AUCs ranged from 0.50 to 0.76 for the outcome BPD. Only two of the five best discriminating models showed good calibration.ConclusionsExternal validation demonstrates that, except for two promising models, most existing clinical prediction models are poor to moderate predictors for BPD. To improve the predictive accuracy and identify preterm infants for future intervention studies aiming to reduce the risk of BPD, additional variables are required. Subsequently, that model should be externally validated using a proper impact analysis before its clinical implementation.

Cross-sectional changes in lung volume measured by electrical impedance tomography are representative for the whole lung in ventilated preterm infants

Objective:Electrical impedance tomography measures lung volume in a cross-sectional slice of the lung. Whether these cross-sectional volume changes are representative of the whole lung has only been investigated in adults, showing conflicting results. This study aimed to compare cross-sectional and whole lung volume changes using electrical impedance tomography and respiratory inductive plethysmography. Design:A prospective, single-center, observational, nonrandomized study. Setting:The study was conducted in a neonatal ICU in the Netherlands. Patients:High-frequency ventilated preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome. Interventions:Cross-sectional and whole lung volume changes were continuously and simultaneously measured by, respectively, electrical impedance tomography and respiratory inductive plethysmography during a stepwise recruitment procedure. End-expiratory lung volume changes were assessed by mapping the inflation and deflation limbs using both the pressure/impedance and pressure/inductance pairs and characterized by calculating the inflection points. In addition, oscillatory tidal volume changes were assessed at each pressure step. Measurements and Main Results:Twenty-three infants were included in the study. Of these, eight infants had to be excluded because the quality of the registration was insufficient for analysis (two electrical impedance tomography and six respiratory inductive plethysmography). In the remaining 15 infants (gestational age 28.0 ± 2.6 wk; birth weight 1,027 ± 514 g), end-expiratory lung volume changes measured by electrical impedance tomography were significantly correlated to respiratory inductive plethysmography measurements in 12 patients (mean r = 0.93 ± 0.05). This was also true for the upper inflection point on the inflation (r = 0.91, p < 0.01) and deflation limb (r = 0.83, p < 0.01). In 13 patients, impedance and inductance data also correlated significantly on oscillatory tidal volume/pressure relationships (mean r = 0.81 ± 0.18). Conclusions:This study shows that cross-sectional lung volume changes measured by electrical impedance tomography are representative for the whole lung and that this concept also applies to newborn infants.

Pneumothorax in a preterm infant monitored by electrical impedance tomography: a case report.

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a noninvasive bedside tool for monitoring regional changes in ventilation. We report, for the first time, the EIT images of a ventilated preterm infant with a unilateral pneumothorax, showing a loss of regional ventilation in the affected lung during both high-frequency oscillation and spontaneous ventilation.

Changes in lung volume and ventilation following transition from invasive to noninvasive respiratory support and prone positioning in preterm infants

Background:To minimize secondary lung injury, ventilated preterm infants are extubated as soon as possible. To maximize extubation success, they are often placed in prone position. The effect of extubation and subsequent prone positioning on lung volumes is currently unknown.Methods:Changes in end-expiratory lung volume (ΔEELV), tidal volume (VT), and ventilation distribution were monitored during transition from endotracheal to nasal continuous positive airway pressure and following prone positioning using electrical impedance tomography. In addition, the continuous distending pressure (CDP) and oxygen need (FiO2) were recorded.Results:Twenty preterm infants (GA 28.7 ± 1.7 wk) were included. Following extubation, the CDP decreased from 7.9 ± 0.5 to 6.0 ± 0.2 cmH2O, while the FiO2 remained stable. Both ΔEELV and VT increased significantly (P < 0.05) after extubation, without changing ventilation distribution. Prone positioning resulted in a further increase in ΔEELV (P < 0.01) and a decrease in respiratory rate. VT remained stable but its distribution clearly shifted toward the ventral lung regions.Conclusion:Infants who are transitioned from invasive to noninvasive respiratory support are able to maintain their EELV and increase their VT. Prone positioning increases EELV and shifts tidal ventilation to the ventral lung regions. The latter suggests that infants should preferably be placed in prone position after extubation.

The effect of prolonged lateral positioning during routine care on regional lung volume changes in preterm infants

During routine nursing care, preterm infants are often placed in lateral position for several hours, but the effect of this procedure on regional lung volume and ventilation is unknown. In our study we examined this effect during 3 hrs of lateral positioning in stable preterm infants.

First Real-Time Visualization of a Spontaneous Pneumothorax Developing in a Preterm Lamb Using Electrical Impedance Tomography

Despite the increased use of noninvasive respiratory support, pneumothoraces remain a significant risk for preterm infants. Early detection and subsequent intervention are essential to minimize the risk for associated mortality and morbidity (1). Clinical symptoms are often nonspecific and vary from sudden to delayed presentation (2). The lack of rapid real-time bedside imaging remains a limiting factor in detection, localization, and management. Current diagnostic tools such as transillumination, ultrasound, or chest X-ray are not very specific and are only used after the occurrence of clinical symptoms (2, 3). During the last decade, electrical impedance tomography (EIT) has developed as a potential bedside monitoring tool (4, 5). In animal models of surgically created artificial air leaks, EIT has been shown to detect pleural air volumes of 10–20 ml, whereas clinical signs of a pneumothorax only developed at an extrapleural air volume of 100 ml or more (6, 7). Regional reductions in tidal ventilation have been reported in a preterm infant and an adult on EIT recordings made after an air leak had developed and been diagnosed (8, 9). However, to date, no real-time EIT recording starting before the onset of a spontaneous unintentional pneumothorax has been published. This letter describes for the first time to our knowledge the evolution of a left-sided pneumothorax in a preterm lamb receiving high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV).

Volume guaranteed? Accuracy of a volume-targeted ventilation mode in infants

Objectives Volume-targeted ventilation (VTV) is widely used and may reduce lung injury, but this assumes the clinically set tidal volume (VTset) is accurately delivered. This prospective observational study aimed to determine the relationship between VTset, expiratory VT (VTe) and endotracheal tube leak in a modern neonatal volume-targeted ventilator (VTV) and the resultant partial arterial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) relationship with and without VTV. Design Continuous inflations were recorded for 24 hours in 100 infants, mean (SD) 34 (4) weeks gestation and 2483 (985) g birth weight, receiving synchronised mechanical ventilation (SLE5000, SLE, UK) with or without VTV and either the manufacturer’s V4 (n=50) or newer V5 (n=50) VTV algorithm. The VTset, VTe and leak were determined for each inflation (maximum 90 000/infant). If PaCO2 was sampled (maximum of 2 per infant), this was compared with the average VTe data from the preceding 15 min. Results A total of 7 497 137 inflations were analysed. With VTV enabled (77 infants), the VTset−VTe bias (95% CI) was 0.03 (−0.12 to 0.19) mL/kg, with a median of 80% of VTe being ±1.0 mL/kg of VTset. Endotracheal tube leak up to 30% influenced VTset−VTe bias with the V4 (r2=−0.64, p<0.0001; linear regression) but not V5 algorithm (r2=0.04, p=0.21). There was an inverse linear relationship between VTe and PaCO2 without VTV (r2=0.26, p=0.004), but not with VTV (r2=0.04, p=0.10), and less PaCO2 within 40–60 mm Hg, 53% versus 72%, relative risk (95% CI) 1.7 (1.0 to 2.9). Conclusion VTV was accurate and reliable even with moderate leak and PaCO2 more stable. VTV algorithm differences may exist in other devices.

Time to lung aeration during a sustained inflation at birth is influenced by gestation in lambs

BackgroundCurrent sustained lung inflation (SI) approaches use uniform pressures and durations. We hypothesized that gestational-age-related mechanical and developmental differences would affect the time required to achieve optimal lung aeration, and resultant lung volumes, during SI delivery at birth in lambs.Methods49 lambs, in five cohorts between 118 and 139 days of gestation (term 142 d), received a standardized 40 cmH2O SI, which was delivered until 10 s after lung volume stability (optimal aeration) was visualized on real-time electrical impedance tomography (EIT), or to a maximum duration of 180 s. Time to stable lung aeration (Tstable) within the whole lung, gravity-dependent, and non-gravity-dependent regions, was determined from EIT recordings.ResultsTstable was inversely related to gestation (P<0.0001, Kruskal–Wallis test), with the median (range) being 229 (85,306) s and 72 (50,162) s in the 118-d and 139-d cohorts, respectively. Lung volume at Tstable increased with gestation from a mean (SD) of 20 (17) ml/kg at 118 d to 56 (13) ml/kg at 139 d (P=0.002, one-way ANOVA). There were no gravity-dependent regional differences in Tstable or aeration.ConclusionsThe trajectory of aeration during an SI at birth is influenced by gestational age in lambs. An understanding of this may assist in developing SI protocols that optimize lung aeration for all infants.

Clinical performance of a novel textile interface for neonatal chest electrical impedance tomography

OBJECTIVE Critically ill neonates and infants might particularly benefit from continuous chest electrical impedance tomography (EIT) monitoring at the bedside. In this study a textile 32-electrode interface for neonatal EIT examination has been developed and tested to validate its clinical performance. The objectives were to assess ease of use in a clinical setting, stability of contact impedance at the electrode-skin interface and possible adverse effects. APPROACH Thirty preterm infants (gestational age: 30.3  ±  3.9 week (mean  ±  SD), postnatal age: 13.8  ±  28.2 d, body weight at inclusion: 1727  ±  869 g) were included in this multicentre study. The electrode-skin contact impedances were measured continuously for up to 3 d and analysed during the initial 20-min phase after fastening the belt and during a 10 h measurement interval without any clinical interventions. The skin condition was assessed by attending clinicians. MAIN RESULTS Our findings imply that the textile electrode interface is suitable for long-term neonatal chest EIT imaging. It does not cause any distress for the preterm infants or discomfort. Stable contact impedance of about 300 Ohm was observed immediately after fastening the electrode belt and during the subsequent 20 min period. A slight increase in contact impedance was observed over time. Tidal variation of contact impedance was less than 5 Ohm. SIGNIFICANCE The availability of a textile 32-electrode belt for neonatal EIT imaging with simple, fast, accurate and reproducible placement on the chest strengthens the potential of EIT to be used for regional lung monitoring in critically ill neonates and infants.