Effects of different mechanical ventilation strategies on the mucociliary system.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of different mechanical ventilation (MV) strategies on the mucociliary system. DESIGN AND SETTING: Experimental study. SUBJECTS: Twenty-seven male New Zealand rabbits. INTERVENTIONS: After anesthesia, animals were tracheotomized and ventilated with standard ventilation [tidal volume (Vt) 8 ml/kg, positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) 5 cmH(2)O, flow 3 L/min, FiO(2) 0.4] for 30 min. Next, animals were randomized into three groups and ventilated for 3 h with low volume (LV): Vt 8 ml/kg, PEEP 5 cmH(2)O, flow 3 L/min (n = 6); high volume (HV): Vt 16 ml/kg, PEEP 5 cmH(2)O, flow 5 L/min (n = 7); or high pressure (HP): Ppeak 30 cmH(2)O, PEEP 12 cmH(2)O (n = 8). Six animals (controls) were ventilated for 10 min with standard ventilation. Vital signals, blood lactate, and respiratory system mechanics were verified. Tracheal tissue was collected before and after MV. MEASUREMENTS: Lung and tracheal tissue sections were stained to analyze inflammation and mucosubstances by the point-counting method. Electron microscopy verified tracheal cell ultrastructure. In situ tracheal ciliary beating frequency (CBF), determined using a videoscopic technique, and tracheal mucociliary transport (TMCT), assessed by stereoscopic microscope, were evaluated before and after MV. RESULTS: Respiratory compliance decreased in the HP group. The HV and HP groups showed higher lactate levels after MV. Macroscopy showed areas of atelectasis and congestion on HV and HP lungs. Lung inflammatory infiltrate increased in all ventilated groups. Compared to the control, ventilated animals also showed a reduction of total and acid mucus on tracheal epithelium. Under electron microscopy, injury was observed in the ciliated cells of the HP group. CBF decreased significantly after MV only in the HP group. TMCT did not change significantly in the ventilated groups. CONCLUSIONS: Different MV strategies induce not only distal lung alterations but also morphological and physiological tracheal alterations leading to mucociliary system dysfunction.

Modulação da expressão gênica de componentes envolvidos no processo de remodelamento pulmonar em diferentes modelos de lesão induzida pela ventilação mecânica / Gene expression of important components involved in lung remodeling process in ventilator induced lung injury

INTRODUÇÃO: Apesar de ser essencial, em algumas situações a ventilação mecânica (VM) pode acarretar danos ao pulmão sadio, evento conhecido como lesão pulmonar induzida pela ventilação ou ventilator-induced lung injury VILI. Esse processo depende da ação de forças mecânicas e da resposta inflamatória pulmonar. OBJETIVO: No presente estudo, analisamos a inflamação pulmonar e a expressão gênica de proteoglicanos e proteínas do citoesqueleto em resposta a dois mecanismos de VILI (alto volume e alta pressão). MÈTODOS: Vinte e um coelhos foram randomizados em três grupos: Controle (CTR), n=6; VC=8ml/kg, PEEP=5cmH2O, fluxo= 2l/min; Alto volume (AV), n=7; VC=16 ml/kg, PEEP 5cmH2O, fluxo= 3 l/min e Alta pressão (AP), n=8; com pressão inspiratória máxima (PIMAX) de 30cmH2O e PEEP=12cmH2O, com a intenção de manter o mesmo volume corrente do grupo controle. Os animais foram ventilados por 3h30m e subsequentemente exsanguinados. RESULTADOS: Houve redução na complacência dinâmica do grupo AP quando comparado aos grupos CTR (p=.001) e AV (p=.000). A análise histológica não mostrou diferença no infiltrado das células inflamatórias entre os grupos, da mesma forma, não foram encontradas diferenças na expressão gênica da interleucina-8. A expressão gênica da alfa-actina não apresentou nenhuma diferença estatística entre os grupos. Diferenças na expressão dos proteoglicanos, entre as regiões pulmonares, foram observadas somente no grupo AV, com aumento da expressão gênica do biglican (p=.004) e lumican (p=.003) na região não dependente. A comparação da região não dependente entre os grupos mostrou aumento da expressão do biglican no grupo AP versus o CTR (p=.005). A análise entre os grupos da região dependente mostrou aumento da expressão da decorina no grupo AP (p=.049) e aumento da expressão do versican no AV (p=.003) e AP (p=.015) versus CTR; e, o grupo AP apresentou aumento na expressão do biglican (p=.007) e do lumican (p=.021)...

INTRODUCTION: In spite of being essential, in some situations mechanical ventilation (MV) can lead to damages to the lung, an event known as ventilator-induced lung injury. This process depends on the action of mechanical forces and lung inflammatory response. OBJECTIVE: Analyze lung inflammation and gene expression of proteoglycans and cytoskeleton proteins in response to two mechanisms of VILI (high volume and high pressure). METHODS: Twenty-one rabbits were randomized into three groups: Control, n=6; VT=8ml/kg, PEEP=5 cm H2O, flow = 2l/min; High volume (HV), n=7; VT=16 ml/kg, PEEP 5 cm H2O, flow = 3 l/min and High pressure (HP), n=8; with maximal inspiratory pressure (PIMAX) of 30cmH2O and PEEP 12cmH2O, with the intention of maintaining the same tidal volume as the LV group.. Animals were ventilated for 3h30m and subsequently exsanguinated. RESULTS: There was a reduction in lung compliance in the HP group when compared to control (p=.001) and HV groups (p=.000). Histological analysis did not show difference in inflammatory cells infiltrate between groups, in the same way, no differences in interleukin 8 gene expression were observed. Alpha-actin gene expression did not show any statistical differences between groups. Differences in proteoglycan expression between lung regions were only noticed in the HV group, with Biglycan (p=.004) and lumican (p=.003) gene expression increased in the non-dependent region. Comparisons between groups concerning the non dependent region showed increased expression of biglycan in HP versus control (p=.005). Comparisons between groups addressing the dependent region showed increased expression of decorin in HP (p=.049) and increased expression of versican in HV (p=.003) and HP (p=.015) versus control; and the HP group showed the highest Biglycan (p=.007) and lumican (p=.021) expressions...

The prediction of extubation success of postoperative neurosurgical patients using frequency-tidal volume ratios.

BACKGROUND: The process of discontinuing neurological patients from mechanical ventilation is still controversial. The aim of this study was to report the outcome from extubating patients undergoing elective craniotomy and correlate the result with the measured f/V (t) ratio. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cohort prospective study, all consecutive patients who required mechanical ventilation for up to 6 h after elective craniotomy were eligible for inclusion in this study. Patients passing daily screening criteria automatically received a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT). Immediately previous to the extubation, the expired minute volume (VE), breathing frequency (f), and tidal volume (V (t)) were measured and the breathing frequency-to-tidal volume ratio (f/V (t)) was calculated; consciousness level based on Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was evaluated at the same time. The extubation was considered a failure when patients needed reintubation within 48 h. RESULTS: Ninety-two patients were extubated and failure occurred in 16%. Despite 15 patients failed extubation just one of them presented the f/V (t) score over 105. The best cutoff value for f/V (t) observed was 62, but with low specificity (0.53) and negative predictive values (0.29). Area under the ROC curve for the f/V (t) was 0.69 +/- 0.07 (P = 0.02). Patients who failed the extubation process presented higher incidence of pneumonia (80%), higher need for tracheostomy (33%) and mortality rate of 40%. CONCLUSION: The f/V (t) ratio does not predict extubation failure in patients who have undergone elective craniotomy. Patients who fail extubation present higher incidence of pneumonia, tracheostomy and higher mortality rate.