Clinical Evaluation of AutoFlow Mode During Mechanical Ventilation

Long Term Clinical Evaluation of AutoFlow Mode During Assist-Controlled Ventilation in ICU Patients

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the long term use of AutoFlow mode during mechanical ventilation in ICU patients

Many new mechanical ventilation modes are proposed without clinical evaluation. Among them, "dual-controlled" modes, as AutoFlow, are supposed to improve patient-ventilator interfacing, and could led to lesser alarm. This study is a long term clinical evaluation of AutoFlow during assist-controlled ventilation, focusing on its efficacy (on gas exchange and outcome) and on ventilator alarms.

Inclusion Criteria:

• adult patients under assist-controlled ventilation with an Evita 4 ventilator (Dräger, France) for an expected duration of more than two days

Exclusion Criteria:

• coma
• ventilation longer than 12 hours prior to inclusion
• pregnancy
• inclusion in another study