Prevalence of Airway Closure

Annual Prevalence of Airway Closure During the Full Support Phase of Invasive Mechanical Ventilation in Adults in an Intensive Care Unit

The primary objective of this study is to describe the prevalence of airway closure during the total support phase of invasive mechanical ventilation in subjects admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). The secondary objective is to analyze whether there are clinical-demographic and/or ventilatory characteristics associated with the presence of airway closure.

Cross-sectional study. To detect airway closure, the maneuver will be performed at low flow and in case of having an opening pressure greater than 5 cmh20, the electrical impedance tomograph will be placed to record the delay in the change of impedance of each quadrant.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients over 18 years of age
• Requiring invasive mechanical ventilation within 48 to 72 hours after orotracheal intubation
• Hemodynamically stable (mean arterial pressure greater than 60 mmHg and/or norepinephrine less than 0.5 mcg/kg/min)
• Without respiratory muscle effort

Exclusion Criteria:

• Neumothorax
• Bronchopleural fistula
• Clinical evidence or suspicion of elevated intracranial pressure (greater than 18 mmHg)