Monitoring CO2 kinetics as a marker of cardiopulmonary efficiency.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To describe current and near future developments and applications of CO2 kinetics in clinical respiratory and cardiovascular monitoring. RECENT FINDINGS: In the last years, we have witnessed a renewed interest in CO2 kinetics in relation with a better understanding of volumetric capnography and its derived parameters. This together with technological advances and improved measurement systems have expanded the monitoring potential of CO2 kinetics including breath by breath continuous end-expiratory lung volume and continuous noninvasive cardiac output. Dead space has slowly been gaining relevance in clinical monitoring and prognostic evaluation. Easy to measure dead space surrogates such as the ventilatory ratio have demonstrated a strong prognostic value in patients with acute respiratory failure. SUMMARY: The kinetics of carbon dioxide describe many relevant physiological processes. The clinical introduction of new ways of assessing respiratory and circulatory efficiency based on advanced analysis of CO2 kinetics are paving the road to a long-desired goal in clinical monitoring of critically ill patients: the integration of respiratory and circulatory monitoring during mechanical ventilation.

Effect of an Individualized Lung Protective Ventilation on Lung Strain and Stress in Children Undergoing Laparoscopy: An Observational Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Exaggerated lung strain and stress could damage lungs in anesthetized children. The authors hypothesized that the association of capnoperitoneum and lung collapse in anesthetized children increases lung strain-stress. Their primary aim was to describe the impact of capnoperitoneum on lung strain-stress and the effects of an individualized protective ventilation during laparoscopic surgery in children. METHODS: The authors performed an observational cohort study in healthy children aged 3 to 7 yr scheduled for laparoscopic surgery in a community hospital. All received standard protective ventilation with 5 cm H2O of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). Children were evaluated before capnoperitoneum, during capnoperitoneum before and after lung recruitment and optimized PEEP (PEEP adjusted to get end-expiratory transpulmonary pressure of 0), and after capnoperitoneum with optimized PEEP. The presence of lung collapse was evaluated by lung ultrasound, positive Air-Test (oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry 96% or less breathing 21% O2 for 5 min), and negative end-expiratory transpulmonary pressure. Lung strain was calculated as tidal volume/end-expiratory lung volume measured by capnodynamics, and lung stress as the end-inspiratory transpulmonary pressure. RESULTS: The authors studied 20 children. Before capnoperitoneum, mean lung strain was 0.20 ± 0.07 (95% CI, 0.17 to 0.23), and stress was 5.68 ± 2.83 (95% CI, 4.44 to 6.92) cm H2O. During capnoperitoneum, 18 patients presented lung collapse and strain (0.29 ± 0.13; 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.35; P < 0.001) and stress (5.92 ± 3.18; 95% CI, 4.53 to 7.31 cm H2O; P = 0.374) increased compared to before capnoperitoneum. During capnoperitoneum and optimized PEEP, children presenting lung collapse were recruited and optimized PEEP was 8.3 ± 2.2 (95% CI, 7.3 to 9.3) cm H2O. Strain returned to values before capnoperitoneum (0.20 ± 0.07; 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.22; P = 0.318), but lung stress increased (7.29 ± 2.67; 95% CI, 6.12 to 8.46 cm H2O; P = 0.020). After capnoperitoneum, strain decreased (0.18 ± 0.04; 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.20; P = 0.090), but stress remained higher (7.25 ± 3.01; 95% CI, 5.92 to 8.57 cm H2O; P = 0.024) compared to before capnoperitoneum. CONCLUSIONS: Capnoperitoneum increased lung strain in healthy children undergoing laparoscopy. Lung recruitment and optimized PEEP during capnoperitoneum decreased lung strain but slightly increased lung stress. This little rise in pulmonary stress was maintained within safe, lung-protective, and clinically acceptable limits.

Performance of a capnodynamic method estimating cardiac output during respiratory failure - before and after lung recruitment.

Respiratory failure may cause hemodynamic instability with strain on the right ventricle. The capnodynamic method continuously calculates cardiac output (CO) based on effective pulmonary blood flow (COEPBF) and could provide CO monitoring complementary to mechanical ventilation during surgery and intensive care. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the ability of a revised capnodynamic method, based on short expiratory holds (COEPBFexp), to estimate CO during acute respiratory failure (LI) with high shunt fractions before and after compliance-based lung recruitment. Ten pigs were submitted to lung lavage and subsequent ventilator-induced lung injury. COEPBFexp, without any shunt correction, was compared to a reference method for CO, an ultrasonic flow probe placed around the pulmonary artery trunk (COTS) at (1) baseline in healthy lungs with PEEP 5 cmH2O (HLP5), (2) LI with PEEP 5 cmH2O (LIP5) and (3) LI after lung recruitment and PEEP adjustment (LIPadj). CO changes were enforced during LIP5 and LIPadj to estimate trending. LI resulted in changes in shunt fraction from 0.1 (0.03) to 0.36 (0.1) and restored to 0.09 (0.04) after recruitment manoeuvre. Bias (levels of agreement) and percentage error between COEPBFexp and COTS changed from 0.5 (- 0.5 to 1.5) L/min and 30% at HLP5 to - 0.6 (- 2.3 to 1.1) L/min and 39% during LIP5 and finally 1.1 (- 0.3 to 2.5) L/min and 38% at LIPadj. Concordance during CO changes improved from 87 to 100% after lung recruitment and PEEP adjustment. COEPBFexp could possibly be used for continuous CO monitoring and trending in hemodynamically unstable patients with increased shunt and after recruitment manoeuvre.

Photoplethysmographic characterization of vascular tone mediated changes in arterial pressure: an observational study.

To determine whether a classification based on the contour of the photoplethysmography signal (PPGc) can detect changes in systolic arterial blood pressure (SAP) and vascular tone. Episodes of normotension (SAP 90-140 mmHg), hypertension (SAP > 140 mmHg) and hypotension (SAP < 90 mmHg) were analyzed in 15 cardiac surgery patients. SAP and two surrogates of the vascular tone, systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and vascular compliance (Cvasc = stroke volume/pulse pressure) were compared with PPGc. Changes in PPG amplitude (foot-to-peak distance) and dicrotic notch position were used to define 6 classes taking class III as a normal vascular tone with a notch placed between 20 and 50% of the PPG amplitude. Class I-to-II represented vasoconstriction with notch placed > 50% in a small PPG, while class IV-to-VI described vasodilation with a notch placed < 20% in a tall PPG wave. 190 datasets were analyzed including 61 episodes of hypertension [SAP = 159 (151-170) mmHg (median 1st-3rd quartiles)], 84 of normotension, SAP = 124 (113-131) mmHg and 45 of hypotension SAP = 85(80-87) mmHg. SAP were well correlated with SVR (r = 0.78, p < 0.0001) and Cvasc (r = 0.84, p < 0.0001). The PPG-based classification correlated well with SAP (r = - 0.90, p < 0.0001), SVR (r = - 0.72, p < 0.0001) and Cvasc (r = 0.82, p < 0.0001). The PPGc misclassified 7 out of the 190 episodes, presenting good accuracy (98.4% and 97.8%), sensitivity (100% and 94.9%) and specificity (97.9% and 99.2%) for detecting episodes of hypotension and hypertension, respectively. Changes in arterial pressure and vascular tone were closely related to the proposed classification based on PPG waveform.Clinical Trial Registration NTC02854852.

Heart-lung interactions in acute respiratory distress syndrome: pathophysiology, detection and management strategies.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the most severe form of acute respiratory failure characterized by diffuse alveolar and endothelial damage. The severe pathophysiological changes in lung parenchyma and pulmonary circulation together with the effects of positive pressure ventilation profoundly affect heart lung interactions in ARDS. The term pulmonary vascular dysfunction (PVD) refers to the specific involvement of the vascular compartment in ARDS and is expressed clinically by an increase in pulmonary arterial (PA) pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance both affecting right ventricular (RV) afterload. When severe, PVD can lead to RV failure which is associated to an increased mortality. The effect of PVD on RV function is not only a consequence of increased pulmonary vascular resistance as afterload is a much more complex phenomenon that includes all factors that oppose efficient ventricular ejection. Impaired pulmonary vascular mechanics including increased arterial elastance and augmented wave-reflection phenomena are commonly seen in ARDS and can additionally affect RV afterload. The use of selective pulmonary vasodilators and lung protective mechanical ventilation strategies are therapeutic interventions that can ameliorate PVD. Prone positioning and the open lung approach (OLA) are especially attractive strategies to improve PVD due to their effects on increasing functional lung volume. In this review we will describe some pathophysiological aspects of heart-lung interactions during the ventilatory support of ARDS, its clinical assessment and discuss therapeutic interventions to prevent the occurrence and progression of PVD and RV failure.

Performance of a capnodynamic method estimating effective pulmonary blood flow during transient and sustained hypercapnia.

The capnodynamic method is a minimally invasive method continuously calculating effective pulmonary blood flow (COEPBF), equivalent to cardiac output when intra pulmonary shunt flow is low. The capnodynamic equation joined with a ventilator pattern containing cyclic reoccurring expiratory holds, provides breath to breath hemodynamic monitoring in the anesthetized patient. Its performance however, might be affected by changes in the mixed venous content of carbon dioxide (CvCO2). The aim of the current study was to evaluate COEPBF during rapid measurable changes in mixed venous carbon dioxide partial pressure (PvCO2) following ischemia-reperfusion and during sustained hypercapnia in a porcine model. Sixteen pigs were submitted to either ischemia-reperfusion (n = 8) after the release of an aortic balloon inflated during 30 min or to prolonged hypercapnia (n = 8) induced by adding an instrumental dead space. Reference cardiac output (CO) was measured by an ultrasonic flow probe placed around the pulmonary artery trunk (COTS). Hemodynamic measurements were obtained at baseline, end of ischemia and during the first 5 min of reperfusion as well as during prolonged hypercapnia at high and low CO states. Ischemia-reperfusion resulted in large changes in PvCO2, hemodynamics and lactate. Bias (limits of agreement) was 0.7 (-0.4 to 1.8) L/min with a mean error of 28% at baseline. COEPBF was impaired during reperfusion but agreement was restored within 5 min. During prolonged hypercapnia, agreement remained good during changes in CO. The mean polar angle was -4.19° (-8.8° to 0.42°). Capnodynamic COEPBF is affected but recovers rapidly after transient large changes in PvCO2 and preserves good agreement and trending ability during states of prolonged hypercapnia at different levels of CO.

Postural lung recruitment assessed by lung ultrasound in mechanically ventilated children.

BACKGROUND: Atelectasis is a common finding in mechanically ventilated children with healthy lungs. This lung collapse cannot be overcome using standard levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and thus for only individualized lung recruitment maneuvers lead to satisfactory therapeutic results. In this short communication, we demonstrate by lung ultrasound images (LUS) the effect of a postural recruitment maneuver (P-RM, i.e., a ventilatory strategy aimed at reaerating atelectasis by changing body position under constant ventilation). RESULTS: Data was collected in the operating room of the Hospital Privado de Comunidad, Mar del Plata, Argentina. Three anesthetized children undergoing mechanical ventilation at constant settings were sequentially subjected to the following two maneuvers: (1) PEEP trial in the supine position PEEP was increased to 10 cmH2O for 3 min and then decreased to back to baseline. (2) P-RM patient position was changed from supine to the left and then to the right lateral position for 90 s each before returning to supine. The total P-RM procedure took approximately 3 min. LUS in the supine position showed similar atelectasis before and after the PEEP trial. Contrarily, atelectasis disappeared in the non-dependent lung when patients were placed in the lateral positions. Both lungs remained atelectasis free even after returning to the supine position. CONCLUSIONS: We provide LUS images that illustrate the concept and effects of postural recruitment in children. This maneuver has the advantage of achieving recruitment effects without the need to elevate airways pressures.

A modified breathing pattern improves the performance of a continuous capnodynamic method for estimation of effective pulmonary blood flow.

In a previous study a new capnodynamic method for estimation of effective pulmonary blood flow (COEPBF) presented a good trending ability but a poor agreement with a reference cardiac output (CO) measurement at high levels of PEEP. In this study we aimed at evaluating the agreement and trending ability of a modified COEPBF algorithm that uses expiratory instead of inspiratory holds during CO and ventilatory manipulations. COEPBF was evaluated in a porcine model at different PEEP levels, tidal volumes and CO manipulations (N = 8). An ultrasonic flow probe placed around the pulmonary trunk was used for CO measurement. We tested the COEPBF algorithm using a modified breathing pattern that introduces cyclic end-expiratory time pauses. The subsequent changes in mean alveolar fraction of carbon dioxide were integrated into a capnodynamic equation and effective pulmonary blood flow, i.e. non-shunted CO, was calculated continuously breath by breath. The overall agreement between COEPBF and the reference method during all interventions was good with bias (limits of agreement) 0.05 (-1.1 to 1.2) L/min and percentage error of 36 %. The overall trending ability as assessed by the four-quadrant and the polar plot methodology was high with a concordance rate of 93 and 94 % respectively. The mean polar angle was 0.4 (95 % CI -3.7 to 4.5)°. A ventilatory pattern recurrently introducing end-expiratory pauses maintains a good agreement between COEPBF and the reference CO method while preserving its trending ability during CO and ventilatory alterations.

Capnodynamic assessment of effective lung volume during cardiac output manipulations in a porcine model.

A capnodynamic calculation of effective pulmonary blood flow includes a lung volume factor (ELV) that has to be estimated to solve the mathematical equation. In previous studies ELV correlated to reference methods for functional residual capacity (FRC). The aim was to evaluate the stability of ELV during significant manipulations of cardiac output (CO) and assess the agreement for absolute values and trending capacity during PEEP changes at different lung conditions. Ten pigs were included. Alterations of alveolar carbon dioxide were induced by cyclic reoccurring inspiratory holds. The Sulphur hexafluoride technique for FRC measurements was used as reference. Cardiac output was altered by preload reduction and inotropic stimulation at PEEP 5 and 12 cmH2O both in normal lung conditions and after repeated lung lavages. ELV at baseline PEEP 5 was [mean (SD)], 810 (163) mL and decreased to 400 (42) mL after lavage. ELV was not significantly affected by CO alterations within the same PEEP level. In relation to FRC the overall bias (limits of agreement) was -35 (-271 to 201) mL, and percentage error 36 %. A small difference between ELV and FRC was seen at PEEP 5 cmH2O before lavage and at PEEP 12 cmH2O after lavage. ELV trending capability between PEEP steps, showed a concordance rate of 100 %. ELV was closely related to FRC and remained stable during significant changes in CO. The trending capability was excellent both before and after surfactant depletion.

Veno-venous extracorporeal CO2 removal for the treatment of severe respiratory acidosis: pathophysiological and technical considerations.

INTRODUCTION: While non-invasive ventilation aimed at avoiding intubation has become the modality of choice to treat mild to moderate acute respiratory acidosis, many severely acidotic patients (pH <7.20) still need intubation. Extracorporeal veno-venous CO2 removal (ECCO2R) could prove to be an alternative. The present animal study tested in a systematic fashion technical requirements for successful ECCO2R in terms of cannula size, blood and sweep gas flow. METHODS: ECCO2R with a 0.98 m(2) surface oxygenator was performed in six acidotic (pH <7.20) pigs using either a 14.5 French (Fr) or a 19Fr catheter, with sweep gas flow rates of 8 and 16 L/minute, respectively. During each experiment the blood flow was incrementally increased to a maximum of 400 mL/minute (14.5Fr catheter) and 1000 mL/minute (19Fr catheter). RESULTS: Amelioration of severe respiratory acidosis was only feasible when blood flow rates of 750 to 1000 mL/minute (19Fr catheter) were used. Maximal CO2-elimination was 146.1 ± 22.6 mL/minute, while pH increased from 7.13 ± 0.08 to 7.41 ± 0.07 (blood flow of 1000 mL/minute; sweep gas flow 16 L/minute). Accordingly, a sweep gas flow of 8 L/minute resulted in a maximal CO2-elimination rate of 138.0 ± 16.9 mL/minute. The 14.5Fr catheter allowed a maximum CO2 elimination rate of 77.9 mL/minute, which did not result in the normalization of pH. CONCLUSIONS: Veno-venous ECCO2R may serve as a treatment option for severe respiratory acidosis. In this porcine model, ECCO2R was most effective when using blood flow rates ranging between 750 and 1000 mL/minute, while an increase in sweep gas flow from 8 to 16 L/minute had less impact on ECCO2R in this setting.

Noninvasive monitoring of lung recruitment maneuvers in morbidly obese patients: the role of pulse oximetry and volumetric capnography.

BACKGROUND: We conducted this study to determine whether pulse oximetry and volumetric capnography (VCap) can determine the opening and closing pressures of lungs of anesthetized morbidly obese patients. METHODS: Twenty morbidly obese patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery with capnoperitoneum were studied. A lung recruitment maneuver was performed in pressure control ventilation as follows: (1) During an ascending limb, the lungs' opening pressure was detected. After increasing positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) from 8 to 16 cm H2O, fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) was decreased until pulse oximetric arterial saturation (SpO2) was <92%. Thereafter, end-inspiratory pressure was increased in steps of 2 cm H2O, from 36 to a maximum of 50 cm H2O. The opening pressure was attained when SpO2 exceeded 97%. (2) During a subsequent decreasing limb, the lungs' closing pressure was identified. PEEP was decreased from 22 to 10 cm H2O in steps of 2 cm H2O. The closing pressure was determined as the PEEP value at which respiratory compliance decreased from its maximum value. We continuously recorded lung mechanics, SpO2, and VCap. RESULTS: The lungs' opening pressures were detected at 44 (4) cm H2O (median and interquartile range) and the closing pressure at 14 (2) cm H2O. Therefore, the level of PEEP that kept the lungs without collapse was found to be 16 (3) cm H2O. Using respiratory compliance as a reference, receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that SpO2 (area under the curve [AUC] 0.80 [SE 0.07], sensitivity 0.65, and specificity 0.94), the elimination of CO2 per breath (AUC 0.91 [SE 0.05], sensitivity 0.85, and specificity 0.98), and Bohr's dead space (AUC 0.83 [SE 0.06], sensitivity 0.70, and specificity 0.95] were relatively accurate for detecting lung collapse during the decreasing limb of a recruitment maneuver. CONCLUSIONS: Lung recruitment in morbidly obese patients could be effectively monitored by combining noninvasive pulse oximetry and VCap. SpO2, the elimination of CO2, and Bohr's dead space detected the individual's opening and closing pressures.

Rationale of dead space measurement by volumetric capnography.

Dead space is the portion of a tidal volume that does not participate in gas exchange because it does not get in contact with blood flowing through the pulmonary capillaries. It is commonly calculated using volumetric capnography, the plot of expired carbon dioxide (CO(2)) versus tidal volume, which is an easy bedside assessment of the inefficiency of a particular ventilatory setting. Today, Bohr's original dead space can be calculated in an entirely noninvasive and breath-by-breath manner as the mean alveolar partial pressure of CO(2) (Paco(2)) which can now be determined directly from the capnogram. The value derived from Enghoff's modification of Bohr's formula (using Paco(2) instead of PACO(2)) is a global index of the inefficiency of gas exchange rather than a true "dead space" because it is influenced by all causes of ventilation/perfusion mismatching, from real dead space to shunt. Therefore, the results obtained by Bohr's and Enghoff's formulas have different physiological meanings and clinicians must be conscious of such differences when interpreting patient data. In this article, we describe the rationale of dead space measurements by volumetric capnography and discuss its main clinical implications and the misconceptions surrounding it.

Validation of Bohr dead space measured by volumetric capnography.

PURPOSE: Bohr's dead space (VD(Bohr)) is commonly calculated using end-tidal CO(2) instead of the true alveolar partial pressure of CO(2) (PACO(2)). The aim of this work was to validate VD(Bohr) using PACO(2) derived from volumetric capnography (VC) against VD(Bohr) with PACO(2) values obtained from the standard alveolar air formula. METHODS: Expired gases of seven lung-lavaged pigs were analyzed at different lung conditions using main-stream VC and multiple inert gas elimination technique (MIGET). PACO(2) was determined by VC as the midpoint of the slope of phase III of the capnogram, while mean expired partial pressure of CO(2) (PeCO(2)) was calculated as the mean expired fraction of CO(2) times the barometric minus the water vapor pressure. MIGET estimated expired CO(2) output (VCO(2)) and PeCO(2) by its V/Q algorithms. Then, PACO(2) was obtained applying the alveolar air formula (PACO(2) = VCO(2)/alveolar ventilation). RESULTS: We found close linear correlations between the two methods for calculating both PACO(2) (r = 0.99) and VD(Bohr) (r = 0.96), respectively (both p < 0.0001). Mean PACO(2) from VC was very similar to the one obtained by MIGET with a mean bias of -0.10 mmHg and limits of agreement between -2.18 and 1.98 mmHg. Mean VD(Bohr) from VC was close to the value obtained by MIGET with a mean bias of 0.010 ml and limits of agreement between -0.044 and 0.064 ml. CONCLUSIONS: VD(Bohr) can be calculated with accuracy using volumetric capnography.

Non-invasive monitoring of central blood pressure by electrical impedance tomography: first experimental evidence.

There is a strong clinical demand for devices allowing continuous non-invasive monitoring of central blood pressure (BP). In the state of the art a new family of techniques providing BP surrogates based on the measurement of the so-called pulse wave velocity (PWV) has been proposed, eliminating the need for inflation cuffs. PWV is defined as the velocity at which pressure pulses propagate along the arterial wall. However, no technique to assess PWV within central arteries in a fully unsupervised manner has been proposed so far. In this pilot study, we provide first experimental evidence that electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is capable of measuring pressure pulses directly within the descending aorta. To obtain a wide range of BP values, we administrated noradrenalin and nitroglycerine to an anesthetized pig under mechanical ventilation. An arterial line was inserted into the ascending aorta for measuring reference BP. EIT images were generated from 32 impedance electrodes placed around the chest at the level of the axilla. Regions of Interest (ROI) such as the descending aorta and the lungs were automatically identified by a novel time-based processing algorithm as the respective EIT pixels representing these structures. The correct positions of these ROIs were confirmed by bolus injections of highly conductive concentrated saline into the right heart and into the ascending aorta. Aortic pulse transit time (PTT) values were determined as the delay between the opening of the aortic valve (obtained from arterial line) and the arrival of pressure pulses at the aortic ROI within the EIT plane. For 11 experimental conditions, with mean BP ranging from 73 to 141 mmHg, strongly significant correlation (r = -0.97, P < 0.00001) between central BP and aortic PTT was observed, suggesting that EIT-derived aortic PTT is a potential non-invasive surrogate of central BP.

Lung recruitment improves the efficiency of ventilation and gas exchange during one-lung ventilation anesthesia.

UNLABELLED: Atelectasis in the dependent lung during one-lung ventilation (OLV) impairs arterial oxygenation and increases dead space. We studied the effect of an alveolar recruitment strategy (ARS) on gas exchange and lung efficiency during OLV by using the single-breath test of CO(2) (SBT-CO(2)). Twelve patients undergoing thoracic surgery were studied at three points in time: (a) during two-lung ventilation and (b) during OLV before and (c) after an ARS. The ARS was applied selectively to the dependent lung and consisted of an increase in peak inspiratory pressure up to 40 cm H(2)O combined with a peak end-expiratory pressure level of 20 cm H(2)O for 10 consecutive breaths. The ARS took approximately 3 min. Arterial blood gases, SBT-CO(2), and metabolic and hemodynamic variables were recorded at the end of each study period. Arterial oxygenation and dead space were better during two-lung ventilation compared with OLV. PaO(2) increased during OLV after lung recruitment (244 +/- 89 mm Hg) when compared with OLV without recruitment (144 +/- 73 mm Hg; P < 0.001). The SBT-CO(2) analysis showed a significant decrease in dead-space variables and an increase in the variables related to the efficiency of ventilation during OLV after an ARS when compared with OLV alone. In conclusion, ARS improves gas exchange and ventilation efficiency during OLV. IMPLICATIONS: In this article, we showed how a pulmonary ventilatory maneuver performed in the dependent lung during one-lung ventilation anesthesia improved arterial oxygenation and dead space.

Imbalances in regional lung ventilation: a validation study on electrical impedance tomography.

Imbalances in regional lung ventilation, with gravity-dependent collapse and overdistention of nondependent zones, are likely associated to ventilator-induced lung injury. Electric impedance tomography is a new imaging technique that is potentially capable of monitoring those imbalances. The aim of this study was to validate electrical impedance tomography measurements of ventilation distribution, by comparison with dynamic computerized tomography in a heterogeneous population of critically ill patients under mechanical ventilation. Multiple scans with both devices were collected during slow-inflation breaths. Six repeated breaths were monitored by impedance tomography, showing acceptable reproducibility. We observed acceptable agreement between both technologies in detecting right-left ventilation imbalances (bias = 0% and limits of agreement = -10 to +10%). Relative distribution of ventilation into regions or layers representing one-fourth of the thoracic section could also be assessed with good precision. Depending on electrode positioning, impedance tomography slightly overestimated ventilation imbalances along gravitational axis. Ventilation was gravitationally dependent in all patients, with some transient blockages in dependent regions synchronously detected by both scanning techniques. Among variables derived from computerized tomography, changes in absolute air content best explained the integral of impedance changes inside regions of interest (r(2) > or = 0.92). Impedance tomography can reliably assess ventilation distribution during mechanical ventilation.