Quantification of Alveolar Recruitment for the Optimization of Mechanical Ventilation Using Quasi-Static Pressure Volume Curve

Abstract

Quasi-static, pulmonary pressure-volume (P-V) curves over an inflation-deflation cycle are analyzed using a respiratory system model (RSM), which had been developed for quantitative characterization of the mechanical behavior of the total respiratory system. Optimum mechanical ventilation setting of Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) for total alveolar recruitment is quantified based on the existing P-V curves of healthy and injured animal models. Our analytical predictions may contribute to the optimization of mechanical ventilation settings for the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) patients.