Assessing physicians' and nurses' experience of dying and death in the ICU: development of the CAESAR-P and the CAESAR-N instruments.

BACKGROUND: As an increasing number of deaths occur in the intensive care unit (ICU), studies have sought to describe, understand, and improve end-of-life care in this setting. Most of these studies are centered on the patient's and/or the relatives' experience. Our study aimed to develop an instrument designed to assess the experience of physicians and nurses of patients who died in the ICU, using a mixed methodology and validated in a prospective multicenter study. METHODS: Physicians and nurses of patients who died in 41 ICUs completed the job strain and the CAESAR questionnaire within 24 h after the death. The psychometric validation was conducted using two datasets: a learning and a reliability cohort. RESULTS: Among the 475 patients included in the main cohort, 398 nurse and 417 physician scores were analyzed. The global score was high for both nurses [62/75 (59; 66)] and physicians [64/75 (61; 68)]. Factors associated with higher CAESAR-Nurse scores were absence of conflict with physicians, pain control handled with physicians, death disclosed to the family at the bedside, and invasive care not performed. As assessed by the job strain instrument, low decision control was associated with lower CAESAR score (61 (58; 65) versus 63 (60; 67), p = 0.002). Factors associated with higher CAESAR-Physician scores were room dedicated to family information, information delivered together by nurse and physician, families systematically informed of the EOL decision, involvement of the nurse during implementation of the EOL decision, and open visitation. They were also higher when a decision to withdraw or withhold treatment was made, no cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed, and the death was disclosed to the family at the bedside. CONCLUSION: We described and validated a new instrument for assessing the experience of physicians and nurses involved in EOL in the ICU. This study shows important areas for improving practices.

Causes and Characteristics of Death in Intensive Care Units: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: Different modes of death are described in selected populations, but few data report the characteristics of death in a general intensive care unit population. This study analyzed the causes and characteristics of death of critically ill patients and compared anticipated death patients to unexpected death counterparts. METHODS: An observational multicenter cohort study was performed in 96 intensive care units. During 1 yr, each intensive care unit was randomized to participate during a 1-month period. Demographic data, characteristics of organ failures (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment subscore greater than or equal to 3), and organ supports were collected on all patients who died in the intensive care unit. Modes of death were defined as anticipated (after withdrawal or withholding of treatment or brain death) or unexpected (despite engagement of full-level care or sudden refractory cardiac arrest). RESULTS: A total of 698 patients were included during the study period. At the time of death, 84% had one or more organ failures (mainly hemodynamic) and 89% required at least one organ support (mainly mechanical ventilation). Deaths were considered unexpected and anticipated in 225 and 473 cases, respectively. Compared to its anticipated counterpart, unexpected death occurred earlier (1 day vs. 5 days; P< 0.001) and had fewer organ failures (1 [1 to 2] vs. 1 [1 to 3]; P< 0.01) and more organ supports (2 [2 to 3] vs. 1 [1 to 2]; P< 0.01). Withdrawal or withholding of treatments accounted for half of the deaths. CONCLUSIONS: In a general intensive care unit population, the majority of patients present with at least one organ failure at the time of death. Anticipated and unexpected deaths represent two different modes of dying and exhibit profiles reflecting the different pathophysiologic underlying mechanisms.

Complicated grief after death of a relative in the intensive care unit.

An increased proportion of deaths occur in the intensive care unit (ICU). We performed this prospective study in 41 ICUs to determine the prevalence and determinants of complicated grief after death of a loved one in the ICU. Relatives of 475 adult patients were followed up. Complicated grief was assessed at 6 and 12 months using the Inventory of Complicated Grief (cut-off score >25). Relatives also completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at 3 months, and the Revised Impact of Event Scale for post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms at 3, 6 and 12 months. We used a mixed multivariate logistic regression model to identify determinants of complicated grief after 6 months. Among the 475 patients, 282 (59.4%) had a relative evaluated at 6 months. Complicated grief symptoms were identified in 147 (52%) relatives. Independent determinants of complicated grief symptoms were either not amenable to changes (relative of female sex, relative living alone and intensivist board certification before 2009) or potential targets for improvements (refusal of treatment by the patient, patient died while intubated, relatives present at the time of death, relatives did not say goodbye to the patient, and poor communication between physicians and relatives). End-of-life practices, communication and loneliness in bereaved relatives may be amenable to improvements.

Dynamics of end expiratory lung volume after changing positive end-expiratory pressure in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients.

INTRODUCTION: Lung recruitment maneuvers followed by an individually titrated positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) are the key components of the open lung ventilation strategy in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The staircase recruitment maneuver is a step-by-step increase in PEEP followed by a decremental PEEP trial. The duration of each step is usually 2 minutes without physiologic rationale. METHODS: In this prospective study, we measured the dynamic end-expiratory lung volume changes (ΔEELV) during an increase and decrease in PEEP to determine the optimal duration for each step. PEEP was progressively increased from 5 to 40 cmH2O and then decreased from 40 to 5 cmH2O in steps of 5 cmH2O every 2.5 minutes. The dynamic of ΔEELV was measured by direct spirometry as the difference between inspiratory and expiratory tidal volumes over 2.5 minutes following each increase and decrease in PEEP. ΔEELV was separated between the expected increased volume, calculated as the product of the respiratory system compliance by the change in PEEP, and the additional volume. RESULTS: Twenty-six early onset moderate or severe ARDS patients were included. Data are expressed as median [25th-75th quartiles]. During the increase in PEEP, the expected increased volume was achieved within 2[2-2] breaths. During the decrease in PEEP, the expected decreased volume was achieved within 1 [1-1] breath, and 95 % of the additional decreased volume was achieved within 8 [2-15] breaths. Completion of volume changes in 99 % of both increase and decrease in PEEP events required 29 breaths. CONCLUSIONS: In early ARDS, most of the ΔEELV occurs within the first minute, and change is completed within 2 minutes, following an increase or decrease in PEEP.

Feasibility study on full closed-loop control ventilation (IntelliVent-ASV™) in ICU patients with acute respiratory failure: a prospective observational comparative study.

INTRODUCTION: IntelliVent-ASV™ is a full closed-loop ventilation mode that automatically adjusts ventilation and oxygenation parameters in both passive and active patients. This feasibility study compared oxygenation and ventilation settings automatically selected by IntelliVent-ASV™ among three predefined lung conditions (normal lung, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)) in active and passive patients. The feasibility of IntelliVent-ASV™ use was assessed based on the number of safety events, the need to switch to conventional mode for any medical reason, and sensor failure. METHOD: This prospective observational comparative study included 100 consecutive patients who were invasively ventilated for less than 24 hours at the time of inclusion with an expected duration of ventilation of more than 12 hours. Patients were ventilated using IntelliVent-ASV™ from inclusion to extubation. Settings, automatically selected by the ventilator, delivered ventilation, respiratory mechanics, and gas exchanges were recorded once a day. RESULTS: Regarding feasibility, all patients were ventilated using IntelliVent-ASV™ (392 days in total). No safety issues occurred and there was never a need to switch to an alternative ventilation mode. The fully automated ventilation was used for 95% of the total ventilation time. IntelliVent-ASV™ selected different settings according to lung condition in passive and active patients. In passive patients, tidal volume (VT), predicted body weight (PBW) was significantly different between normal lung (n = 45), ARDS (n = 16) and COPD patients (n = 19) (8.1 (7.3 to 8.9) mL/kg; 7.5 (6.9 to 7.9) mL/kg; 9.9 (8.3 to 11.1) mL/kg, respectively; P 0.05). In passive ARDS patients, FiO2 and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) were statistically higher than passive normal lung (35 (33 to 47)% versus 30 (30 to 31)% and 11 (8 to 13) cmH2O versus 5 (5 to 6) cmH2O, respectively; P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: IntelliVent-ASV™ was safely used in unselected ventilated ICU patients with different lung conditions. Automatically selected oxygenation and ventilation settings were different according to the lung condition, especially in passive patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01489085.

Recruitability of the lung estimated by the pressure volume curve hysteresis in ARDS patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the hysteresis of the pressure-volume curve (PV curve) as to estimate, easily and at the bedside, the recruitability of the lung in ARDS patients. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Twelve medico-surgical ICU beds of a general hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty-six patients within the first 24 h from meeting ARDS criteria. INTERVENTION: A Quasi-static inflation and deflation PV curve from 0 to 40 cmH(2)O and a 40 cmH(2)O recruitment maneuver (RM) maintained for 10 s were successively done with an interval of 30 min in between. RECORDINGS AND CALCULATION: Hysteresis of the PV curve (H(PV)) was calculated as the ratio of the area enclosed by the pressure volume loop divided by the predicted body weight (PBW). The volume increase during the RM (V(RM)) was measured by integration of the flow required to maintain the pressure at 40 cmH(2)O and divided by PBW, as an estimation of the volume recruited during the RM. RESULTS: A positive linear correlation was found between H(PV) and V(RM) (r = 0.81, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest using the hysteresis of the PV curve to assess the recruitability of the lung.

Automatic selection of breathing pattern using adaptive support ventilation.

OBJECTIVE: In a cohort of mechanically ventilated patients to compare the automatic tidal volume (VT)-respiratory rate (RR) combination generated by adaptive support ventilation (ASV) for various lung conditions. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective observational cohort study in the 11-bed medicosurgical ICU of a general hospital. PATIENTS: 243 patients receiving 1327 days of invasive ventilation on ASV. MEASUREMENTS: Daily collection of ventilator settings, breathing pattern, arterial blood gases, and underlying clinical respiratory conditions categorized as: normal lungs, ALI/ARDS, COPD, chest wall stiffness, or acute respiratory failure. RESULTS: Overall the respiratory mechanics differed significantly with the underlying conditions. In passive patients ASV delivered different VT-RR combinations based on the underlying condition, providing higher VT and lower RR in COPD than in ALI/ARDS: 9.3ml/kg (8.2-10.8) predicted body weight (PBW) and 13 breaths/min (11-16) vs. 7.6ml/kg (6.7-8.8) PBW and 18 breaths/min (16-22). In patients actively triggering the ventilator the VT-RR combinations did not differ between COPD, ALI/ARDS, and normal lungs. CONCLUSIONS: ASV selects different VT-RR combinations based on respiratory mechanics in passive, mechanically ventilated patients.

Closed loop ventilation mode in Intensive Care Unit: a randomized controlled clinical trial comparing the numbers of manual ventilator setting changes.

BACKGROUND: There is an equipoise regarding closed-loop ventilation modes and the ability to reduce workload for providers. On one hand some settings are managed by the ventilator but on another hand the automatic mode introduces new settings for the user. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial compared the number of manual ventilator setting changes between a full closed loop ventilation and oxygenation mode (INTELLiVENT-ASV®) and conventional ventilation modes (volume assist control and pressure support) in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients. The secondary endpoints were to compare the number of arterial blood gas analysis, the sedation dose and the user acceptance. Sixty subjects with an expected duration of mechanical ventilation of at least 48 hours were randomized to be ventilated using INTELLiVENT-ASV® or conventional modes with a protocolized weaning. All manual ventilator setting changes were recorded continuously from inclusion to successful extubation or death. Arterial blood gases were performed upon decision of the clinician in charge. User acceptance score was assessed for nurses and physicians once daily using a Likert Scale. RESULTS: The number of manual ventilator setting changes per 24 h-period per subject was lower in INTELLiVENT-ASV® as compared to conventional ventilation group (5 [4-7] versus 10 [7-17]) manuals settings per subject per day [P<0.001]). The number of arterial blood gas analysis and the sedation doses were not significantly different between the groups. Nurses and physicians reported that INTELLiVENT-ASV® was significantly easier to use as compared to conventional ventilation (P<0.001 for nurses and P<0.01 for physicians). CONCLUSIONS: For mechanically ventilated ICU patients, INTELLiVENT-ASV® significantly reduces the number of manual ventilator setting changes with the same number of arterial blood gas analysis and sedation dose, and is easier to use for the caregivers as compared to conventional ventilation modes.

Questions to improve family-staff communication in the ICU: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Relatives of intensive care unit (ICU) patients suffer emotional distress that impairs their ability to acquire the information they need from the staff. We sought to evaluate whether providing relatives with a list of important questions was associated with better comprehension on day 5. METHODS: Randomized, parallel-group trial. Relatives of mechanically ventilated patients were included from 14 hospitals belonging to the FAMIREA study group in France. A validated list of 21 questions was handed to the relatives immediately after randomization. The primary endpoint was comprehension on day 5. Secondary endpoints were satisfaction (Critical Care Family Needs Inventory, CCFNI) and symptoms of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS). RESULTS: Of 394 randomized relatives, 302 underwent the day-5 assessment of all outcomes. Day-5 family comprehension was adequate in 68 (44.2%) and 75 (50.7%) intervention and control group relatives (P = 0.30), respectively. Over the first five ICU days, median number of family-staff meetings/patient was 6 [3-9], median total meeting time was 72.5 [35-110] min, and relatives asked a median of 20 [8-33] questions including 11 [6-13] from the list, with no between-group difference. Satisfaction and anxiety/depression symptoms were not significantly different between groups. The only variable significantly associated with better day-5 comprehension by multivariable analysis was a higher total number of questions asked before day 5. CONCLUSIONS: Providing relatives with a list of questions did not improve day-5 comprehension, secondary endpoints, or information time. Further research is needed to help families obtain the information they need. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02410538.

Acute respiratory failure after drowning: a retrospective multicenter survey.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the extensive literature on drowning, clinical data are still lacking on the best medical strategy to use. Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is the main component of drowning pathophysiology. The objectives of this multicenter study were to analyze the clinical course of drowning-related ARF patients and to describe the efficacy of the ventilatory strategies used. METHODS: Medical records of drowned adult patients admitted in seven ICUs after prehospital emergency medical care during three consecutive summer periods were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 126 patients (58±21 years) admitted, 38 patients with cardiac arrest at the scene were not analyzed, 26 received mechanical ventilation (MV), and 48 patients received noninvasive ventilation (NIV). Compared with patients placed under MV, the NIV patients presented a better initial neurological (Glasgow Coma Scale of 7±4 vs. 12±3, P<0.05) and hemodynamic status from the prehospital stage (mean arterial pressure of 77±18 vs. 96±18, P<0.001). With comparable ARF-related hypoxemia to MV, the NIV was maintained with success in 92% (44/48). Both MV and NIV were associated with rapid improvement of oxygenation and short ICU length of stay [3 (1-14) and 2 (1-7), respectively]. CONCLUSION: Despite the absence of recommendation for NIV use in case of drowning-related ARF, this technique was often used with safety and efficacy. The decision for NIV use was mainly based on the preserved or improved neurological status.

Haemodynamic management of severe sepsis: recommendations of the French Intensive Care Societies (SFAR/SRLF) Consensus Conference, 13 October 2005, Paris, France.

We present a consensus report from the SFAR/SLRF (Société Française d'Anesthésie et de Réanimation/Société de Réanimation de Langue Française) Consensus Conference, held on 13 October 2005 in Paris, France. The consensus report made recommendations on five topics relevant to the treatment of circulatory failure in sepsis and its underlying rationale. These topics are as follows: therapeutic goals of haemodynamic support in sepsis; goals of fluid resuscitation (including transfusion); role of inotropes and vasoactive drugs; role of other treatments; and treatment strategy. This report is reproduced from a translation of the original in Annales Francaises of Anesthésie and Réanimation.

CAESAR: a new tool to assess relatives' experience of dying and death in the ICU.

PURPOSE: To develop an instrument designed specifically to assess the experience of relatives of patients who die in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: The instrument was developed using a mixed methodology and validated in a prospective multicentre study. Relatives of patients who died in 41 ICUs completed the questionnaire by telephone 21 days after the death, then completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Impact of Event Scale-Revised and Inventory of Complicated Grief after 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 600 relatives were included, 475 in the main cohort and 125 in the reliability cohort. The 15-item questionnaire, named CAESAR, covered the patient's preferences and values, interactions with/around the patient and family satisfaction. We defined three groups based on CAESAR score tertiles: lowest (≤59, n = 107, 25.9 %), middle (n = 185, 44.8 %) and highest (≥69, n = 121, 29.3 %). Factorial analysis showed a single dimension. Cronbach's alpha in the main and reliability cohorts was 0.88 (0.85-0.90) and 0.85 (0.79-0.89), respectively. Compared to a high CAESAR score, a low CAESAR score was associated with greater risks of anxiety and depression at 3 months [1.29 (1.13-1.46), p = 0.001], post-traumatic stress-related symptoms at 3 [1.34 (1.17-1.53), p < 0.001], 6 [OR = 1.24 (1.06-1.44), p = 0.008] and 12 [OR = 1.26 (1.06-1.50), p = 0.01] months and complicated grief at 6 [OR = 1.40 (1.20-1.63), p < 0.001] and 12 months [OR = 1.27 (1.06-1.52), p = 0.01]. CONCLUSIONS: The CAESAR score 21 days after death in the ICU is strongly associated with post-ICU burden in the bereaved relatives. The CAESAR score should prove a useful primary endpoint in trials of interventions to improve relatives' well-being.

Efficiency and safety of a noninvasive therapeutic hypothermia protocol in cardiac arrest.

OBJECTIVES: Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is part of the treatment strategy for comatose survivors of cardiac arrest (CA). The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficiency and the safety of a noninvasive and affordable cooling procedure applied to all types of CA in an ICU. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective, observational, monocenter study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all patients remaining unconscious after CA, irrespective of their initial cardiac rhythm, TH was induced with a rapid intravenous infusion of 30 ml/kg ice-cold (4°C) saline fluid associated with external surface cooling involving ice packs and wet sheets. The body temperature was maintained between 32 and 34°C during 24 h using external surface cooling only. The patients were then passively rewarmed. RESULTS: Of 200 eligible patients, 145 were treated by TH; 104 patients completed the 24-h TH treatment. The primary cause of noninclusion or secondary exclusion was severe hemodynamic impairment. From induction, the median time to reach the target temperature was 167 min (47-300 min). During the protocol, 24 patients did not remain within the targeted temperature range. Adverse events included hypokalemia (44%), severe arrhythmia (13.8%), bleeding (4.8%), and seizure (1.4%). All patients presented hyperglycemia. The oxygen partial pressure to oxygen fractional concentration (PaO2/FiO2) ratio remained constant after initiation and throughout the procedure, even in patients with poor systolic function. CONCLUSION: This noninvasive TH procedure seems efficient and safe in all patients remaining comatose after CA. Thanks to its simplicity, it could allow prehospital cooling to reach the target temperature more rapidly.

Rational use of antibiotics in the intensive care unit: impact on microbial resistance and costs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of an intensive care unit (ICU) antibiotic-use policy on the microbial resistance in nosocomial infections and costs. DESIGN: Comparative study before and after policy implementation. SETTINGS: An eleven-bed ICU in a general hospital. PATIENTS: All patients admitted for at least 48 h during a 5year period (1994-1998). INTERVENTIONS: In 1995, implementation of an antibiotic-use policy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients' general characteristics, incidence of nosocomial infections, antibiotic-selective pressure (the number of days of antibiotic treatment for 1,000 days of presence in the ICU), presence and types of multi-resistant micro-organisms and costs linked to antibiotic use were recorded before (1994) and after implementation of the policy (1995-1998). For each year, patients' general characteristics and the incidence of nosocomial infections were the same. Costs linked to antibiotics use showed a progressive reduction (100% for 1994, 81% for 1995, 65% for 1998). Antibiotic-selective pressure diminished (from 940 days of antibiotic use per 1,000 days (1994) to 610 (1998), p<10(-5)). A statistically significant reduction in nosocomial infections due to antimicrobial resistant micro-organisms was observed (from 37% (1994) to 15% (1998) of nosocomial infections, p<10(-5)) after 3 years of implementation of the policy, essentially due to a reduction in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and ceftriaxone-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Nosocomial infections due to ceftazidime-resistant Pseudomonas species or extended-spectrum ss-lactamase Enterobacteriaceae showed no reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic-use policy allowed a reduction in antibiotic-selective pressure, costs linked to antibiotics and selective reduction of nosocomial infections due to antimicrobial resistant micro-organisms.

Safety and efficacy of a fully closed-loop control ventilation (IntelliVent-ASV®) in sedated ICU patients with acute respiratory failure: a prospective randomized crossover study.

PURPOSE: IntelliVent-ASV(®) is a development of adaptive support ventilation (ASV) that automatically adjusts ventilation and oxygenation parameters. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of IntelliVent-ASV(®) in sedated intensive care unit (ICU) patients with acute respiratory failure. METHODS: This prospective randomized crossover comparative study was conducted in a 12-bed ICU in a general hospital. Two periods of 2 h of ventilation in randomly applied ASV or IntelliVent-ASV(®) were compared in 50 sedated, passively ventilated patients. Tidal volume (V(T)), respiratory rate (RR), inspiratory pressure (P(INSP)), SpO(2) and E(T)CO(2) were continuously monitored and recorded breath by breath. Mean values over the 2-h period were calculated. Respiratory mechanics, plateau pressure (P(PLAT)) and blood gas exchanges were measured at the end of each period. RESULTS: There was no safety issue requiring premature interruption of IntelliVent-ASV(®). Minute ventilation (MV) and V(T) decreased from 7.6 (6.5-9.5) to 6.8 (6.0-8.0) L/min (p < 0.001) and from 8.3 (7.8-9.0) to 8.1 (7.7-8.6) mL/kg PBW (p = 0.003) during IntelliVent-ASV(®) as compared to ASV. P(PLAT) and FiO(2) decreased from 24 (20-29) to 20 (19-25) cmH(2)O (p = 0.005) and from 40 (30-50) to 30 (30-39) % (p < 0.001) during IntelliVent-ASV(®) as compared to ASV. RR, P(INSP), and PEEP decreased as well during IntelliVent-ASV(®) as compared to ASV. Respiratory mechanics, pH, PaO(2) and PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio were not different but PaCO(2) was slightly higher during IntelliVent-ASV(®) as compared to ASV. CONCLUSIONS: In passive patients with acute respiratory failure, IntelliVent-ASV(®) was safe and able to ventilate patients with less pressure, volume and FiO(2) while producing the same results in terms of oxygenation.

Optimal duration of a sustained inflation recruitment maneuver in ARDS patients.

PURPOSE: To measure the dynamics of recruitment and the hemodynamic status during a sustained inflation recruitment maneuver (RM) in order to determine the optimal duration of RM in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted in a 12-bed intensive care unit (ICU) in a general hospital. A 40 cmH(2)O sustained inflation RM maintained for 30 s was performed in 50 sedated ventilated patients within the first 24 h of meeting ARDS criteria. Invasive arterial pressures, heart rate, and SpO(2) were measured at 10-s intervals during the RM. The volume increase during the RM was measured by integration of the flow required to maintain the pressure at 40 cmH(2)O, which provides an estimation of the volume recruited during the RM. Raw data were corrected for gas consumption and fitted with an exponential curve in order to determine an individual time constant for the volume increase. RESULTS: The average volume increase and time constant were 210 ± 198 mL and 2.3 ± 1.3 s, respectively. Heart rate, diastolic arterial pressure, and SpO(2) did not change during or after the RM. Systolic and mean arterial pressures were maintained at 10 s, decreased significantly at 20 and 30 s during the RM, and recovered to the pre-RM value 30 s after the end of the RM (ANOVA, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In early-onset ARDS patients, most of the recruitment occurs during the first 10 s of a sustained inflation RM. However, hemodynamic impairment is significant after the tenth second of RM.