Influence of Positive-End-Expiratory-Pressure (PEEP) on Cardiac Output in Mechanically Ventilated Children

Influence of Positive-End-Expiratory-Pressure (PEEP) on Cardiac Output in Mechanically Ventilated Children

Interventional Trial to determine the Effect of different PEEP levels on Cardiac output and right-ventricular function in mechanically ventilated children < 5 years of age with congenital heart disease.

Different PEEP-levels will be applied during invasive mechanical ventilation to describe Cardio-pulmonary interactions in children with congenital heart disease (CHD). An additional trial with the same study protocol is planned in a cohort of children with primarily pulmonary disease without CHD after completion of this trial. Esophageal pressure-monitoring, Ultrasound, respiratory mechanics and electrical impedance tomography will be used

Inclusion Criteria:

• invasive mechanical ventilation
• congenital heart disease (biventricular anatomy)

Exclusion Criteria:

• univentricular hearts
• ECMO/VAD