Effects of Mechanical Insufflation-Exsufflation With Different Pressure Settings on Respiratory Mucus Displacement During Invasive Ventilation.

BACKGROUND

Mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E) has been proposed as a potential strategy to generate high expiratory flows and simulate cough in the critically ill. However, efficacy and safety of MI-E during invasive mechanical ventilation are still to be fully elucidated. This study in intubated and mechanically ventilated pigs aimed to evaluate the effects of 8 combinations of insufflation-exsufflation pressures during MI-E on mucus displacement, respiratory flows, as well as respiratory mechanics and hemodynamics.

METHODS

Six healthy Landrace-Large White female pigs were orotracheally intubated, anesthetized, and invasively ventilated for up to 72 h. Eight combinations of insufflation-exsufflation pressures (+40/-40, +40/-50, +40/-60, +40/-70, +50/-40, +50/-50, +50/-60, +50/-70 cm HO) were applied in a randomized order. The MI-E device was set to automatic mode, medium inspiratory flow, and an inspiratory-expiratory time 3 and 2 s, respectively, with a 1-s pause between cycles. We performed 4 series of 5 insufflation-exsufflation cycles for each combination of pressures. Velocity and direction of movement of a mucus simulant containing radio-opaque markers were assessed through sequential lateral fluoroscopic images of the trachea. We also evaluated respiratory flows, respiratory mechanics, and hemodynamics before, during, and after each combination of pressures.

RESULTS

In 3 of the animals, experiments were conducted twice; and for the remaining 3, they were conducted once. In comparison to baseline mucus movement (2.85 ± 2.06 mm/min), all insufflation-exsufflation pressure combinations significantly increased mucus velocity ( = .01). Particularly, +40/-70 cm HO was the most effective combination, increasing mucus movement velocity by up to 4.8-fold ( < .001). Insufflation pressure of +50 cm HO resulted in higher peak inspiratory flows ( = .004) and inspiratory transpulmonary pressure ( < .001) than +40 cm HO.

CONCLUSIONS

MI-E appeared to be an efficient strategy to improve mucus displacement during invasive ventilation, particularly when set at +40/-70 cm HO. No safety concerns were identified although a transient significant increase of transpulmonary pressure was observed.