Low Tidal Volume Ventilation in Patients without Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Paradigm Shift in Mechanical Ventilation

Abstract

Protective ventilation with low tidal volume has been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients suffering from acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Low tidal volume ventilation is associated with particular clinical challenges and is therefore often underutilized as a therapeutic option in clinical practice. Despite some potential difficulties, data have been published examining the application of protective ventilation in patients without lung injury. We will briefly review the physiologic rationale for low tidal volume ventilation and explore the current evidence for protective ventilation in patients without lung injury. In addition, we will explore some of the potential reasons for its underuse and provide strategies to overcome some of the associated clinical challenges.

1. Introduction

Lung protective ventilation has evolved over the last several decades and has focused largely on patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute lung injury (ALI). There is clear evidence from animal and human data that mechanical ventilation can induce and exacerbate lung injury, and thus the current standard of care is the use of a lung protective ventilation strategy in patients suffering from ALI/ARDS [1–3]. Protective ventilation refers to the use of low tidal volume (VT), often in the range of 4–8 mL/kg of predicted body weight (PBW). In fact, 6 mL/kg is the normal physiologic VT in humans [4]. In ALI and in ARDS, there is a breakdown of normal lung architecture, loss of functioning lung units, and the development of high-permeability pulmonary edema, all of which result in clinically stiff, noncompliant, and heterogeneous lungs [5, 6]. The ventilator in this setting can produce a wide array of local and systemic adverse effects, known as ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) [6, 7]. Mechanistically, these pathophysiologic changes occur from the direct effect of high pressure on the lung, barotrauma, from the damage caused by lung overdistension, volutrauma, from the shear stress of repetitive opening and closing of alveoli, atelectotrauma, and from the generation of cytokines and an inflammatory cascade, resulting in biotrauma. This can perpetuate lung injury as well as induce multiorgan failure, the most common cause of death in patients with ARDS [8–10]. Many investigators have conducted several large randomized trials that have shown that the use of lower VTs is associated with improved outcomes and a reduction in the incidence of VILI [11–15]. Indeed, over the last two decades, VTs in the intensive care unit (ICU) have been reduced, predominantly in patients with ALI or ARDS [16, 17]. However, evidence also exists that mechanical ventilation can be injurious to the lungs and other organ systems in patients without ALI or ARDS. We will review the current literature concerning the use of protective ventilation in non-lung injured patients and highlight important challenges that limit the successful implementation of protective ventilation in clinical practice.

2. The History of Protective Ventilation

In 1963, a seminal paper by Bendixen in the New England Journal of Medicine [18] demonstrated that the use of higher VTs during anesthesia (18 patients undergoing laparotomy) resulted in less atelectasis, less acidosis, and improved oxygenation compared to lower VTs. Nearly fifty years later, anesthesiology textbooks continue to maintain that VTs should be between 10–15 mL/kg while undergoing mechanical ventilation in order to avoid atelectasis and hypoxia [19]. Following the original description of ARDS by Ashbaugh et al. in 1967 [20], many studies have been performed in ALI/ARDS patients with a variety of VTs ranging from 10 to 24 mL/kg [21–24]. It was not until the 1970s and 1980s that a significant amount of data first started to emerge focusing on the deleterious effects of large VTs in the lungs of animals [7, 25, 26] and it was Hickling who first proposed the notion of permissive hypercapnia with the use of low VT [27, 28]. It was many years later when randomized clinical data emerged in humans revealing improved outcomes with the use of lower VTs with or without the use of high levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), although initial data was conflicting [11–14, 29–31]. Amato et al. performed a randomized trial on 53 patients with ARDS, which revealed a reduction in 28-day mortality from 71% to 38% using 12 mL/kg versus 6 mL/kg [12]. In the same year, two other clinical trials emerged with conflicting results. A trial by Brochard et al. compared VTs of <10 mL/kg versus ≥10 mL/kg in 116 patients with ARDS and failed to show a significant reduction in mortality (37.9% versus 46.6%  P = 0.38), barotraumas, or multiorgan dysfunction [13]. Stewart et al. completed a similar trial in 120 patients comparing a VT of 8 mL/kg versus 10–15 mL/kg, which again did not result in a reduction in mortality (50% versus 47%, resp.) [14]. In 2006, Villar et al. randomized patients with ARDS to receive a VT of 9–11 mL/kg PBW with a PEEP ≥5 cm H₂O or to a VT of 5–8 mL/kg PBW with a PEEP level setting based on the lower inflection point of the pressure-volume curve. They demonstrated an increase in ventilator free days and importantly a reduction in both ICU and hospital mortality [32].

In 2000, the largest and most influential trial was published by the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Network, where they randomized 861 patients to a protective low VT strategy of 6 mL/kg of PBW with a plateau pressure less than 30 cm H₂O, versus 12 mL/kg with a plateau pressure less than 50 cm H₂O. They found a statistically significant reduction in mortality from 39.8% to 31% in the lower VT group [11]. Based on these results, current guidelines recommend VTs of 6 mL/kg of PBW for the management of patients with ALI or ARDS [33].

In addition to the reduction of tidal volume, increasing the level of PEEP is now considered an integral part of protective ventilation. The use of PEEP in ALI/ARDS and in particular at what level and how to set PEEP has not been without controversy. Coupled with a low tidal volume strategy three large randomized controlled trials have been published in the last decade: the ALVEOLI trial published in 2004 and the LOVS and EXPRESS trials in 2008 [29–31]. A recent meta-analysis, examining the data from the 3 trials which included 2299 individual patients, demonstrated that higher levels of PEEP were associated with improved survival among ARDS but not ALI patients [34].

The effect of low VT ventilation with higher levels of PEEP in patients without ALI or ARDS is less well known.

3. Protective Ventilation in Patients without Lung Injury

In addition to mechanical ventilation aggravating the course of disease in patients already suffering from ALI/ARDS, mechanical ventilation can also lead to the development of ALI/ARDS [35]. Once the lung has been “primed” by an initial physiologic insult such as pneumonia, aspiration, sepsis, blood transfusions or cardiopulmonary bypass, injurious mechanical ventilation can then initiate a pulmonary and systemic inflammatory response leading to ALI or ARDS [35]. Consequently, ventilated patients at highest risk for the development of further lung injury are those who are critically ill and undergo high-risk surgeries or who have an illness requiring an ICU admission (Tables 1 and 2). These patients may therefore benefit from a strategy of low tidal volume ventilation to reduce the risk of developing ALI/ARDS.

Table 1.

Impact of ventilation strategy after noncardiac and cardiac surgery.

Reference (year)	Type of patients (n)	VT-PEEP	Main results
		mL/kg  cm H2O
Non-cardiac surgery
Fernández-Pérez et al. (2006) [42] Observational	Pneumonectomy (170)	VT 8.3 versus 6.7	18% postoperative ARF VT was a risk factor for ARF
Michelet et al. (2006) [43] RCT	Esophagectomy (52)	VT 9/9-PEEP 0 VT 9/5-PEEP 5	↘ inflammatory markers ↗ oxygenation, ↘ MV duration
Lee et al. (1990) [41] RCT	Mixed postop patients (103)	VT 12 versus 6	Trend for ↘ pulmonary infections and ↘ MV duration
Wrigge et al. (2000) [55] RCT	Elective surgeries (39)	VT 15-PEEP 0 VT 6-PEEP 0 VT 6-PEEP 10	No difference in inflammatory markers 1 h after surgery
Wrigge et al. (2004) [26]RCT	Abdominal and thoracic surgeries (64)	VT 12–15-PEEP 0 VT 6-PEEP 10	No difference in inflammatory markers 3 hrs after surgery
Choi et al. (2006) [56] RCT	Prolonged surgeries (40)	VT 12-PEEP 0 VT 6-PEEP 10	↘ coagulation activation after 5 hrs of MV
Weingarten et al. (2010) [44] RCT	Major abdominal surgeries (40)	VT 10-PEEP 0 VT 6-PEEP 12	Improved respiratory mechanics and oxygenation, no difference in biomarkers
Cardiac surgery
Koner et al. (2004) [51] RCT	CABG (44)	VT 10-PEEP 0 VT 6-PEEP 5	No difference on inflammation ↗ oxygenation with PEEP
Wrigge et al. (2005) [52] RCT	CABG (44)	VT 6-PEEP 10 VT 12-PEEP 7 VT 6-PEEP 9	↘ TNF in BAL
Reis Miranda et al. (2005) [50] RCT	CABG (62)	VT 6–8-PEEP 5 VT 4–6-PEEP 10	More rapid ↘ in proinflammatory cytokines
Zupancich et al. (2005) [49] RCT	CABG (40)	VT 10–12*-PEEP 2-3 VT 8*-PEEP 10	↘ proinflammatory cytokines after cardiopulmonary bypass
Sundar et al. (2011) [53] RCT	CABG, Valves (149)	VT 10-PEEP > 5 VT 6-PEEP > 5	Less intubated patients after 6 hrs Less reintubation
Lellouche et al. (2010) [54] Observational	CABG, Valves (3434)	VT < 10 versus 10–12 versus > 12	↗ organ dysfunction and ↗ ICU length of stay with high and traditional VT

RCT: randomized controlled studies. MV: mechanical ventilation. ARF: acute respiratory failure. BAL: bronchoalveolar lavage. TNF: tumour necrosis factor. VT: tidal volume.

*mL/Kg of actual body weight (ABW).

Table 2.

Impact of ventilation strategy for critically ill intensive care unit patients.

Reference (year)	Type of patients (n)	VT-PEEP	Main results
		mL/kg  cm H2O
Intensive care unit patients
Gajic et al. (2004) [35] Cohort	Medical/surgical (332)		OR for ALI = 1.3 for every 1 mL > 6 mL/kg
Gajic et al. (2005) [36] Retrospective	Medical/surgical (3261)		OR for ARDS = 2.6 with VT > 700 mL
Determann et al. (2010) [37] RCT	Medical/surgical (150)	VT 10 versus 6	Relative risk for developing ALI was 5.1 with high VT ↓ inflammatory markers
Mascia et al. (2010) [38] RCT	Organ Donors (118)	VT 10–12-PEEP 3–5 VT 6–8-PEEP 8–10	More eligible and harvested lungs with low VT

RCT: randomized controlled studies. MV: mechanical ventilation. VT: tidal volume. ALI: acute lung injury. ARDS: acute respiratory distress syndrome.

In 2004, Gajic et al. conducted a retrospective cohort study of mixed medical-surgical patients receiving mechanical ventilation for >48 hrs in the ICU who did not have ALI at the time of intubation [35]. This study analyzed 332 patients of which 80 (24%) developed ALI within 5 days of mechanical ventilation. Women tended to have higher VT (11.4 versus 10.4 mL/kg PBW) and developed ALI more frequently (29% versus 20%, P < 0.068). A multivariate analysis revealed an increased risk of developing ALI with the use of volumes greater than 6 mL/kg PBW (OR 1.3 for every 1 mL > 6 mL/kg, P < 0.001).

In another study by Gajic et al., analysis of a large international database of over three thousand mechanically ventilated medical-surgical ICU patients without ALI/ARDS showed that ARDS developed in 6.2% of patients after 48 hrs of mechanical ventilation. Most patients were admitted with sepsis, pneumonia, trauma or post-operatively. A multivariate analysis revealed that the use of a VT greater than 700 mL was associated with an odds ratio of 2.66 for the development of ARDS (P < 0.001) [36].

Determann et al. recently performed a randomized non-blinded two-centre trial comparing conventional 10 mL/kg PBW to 6 mL/kg PBW in 152 critically ill medical/surgical patients [37]. Patients were randomized within 36 hours of initiation of mechanical ventilation. The primary outcome was the measurement of cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and plasma. Secondary outcomes included the development of ALI/ARDS, duration of ventilation, and overall mortality. Despite balanced baseline demographics including known risk factors for ALI/ARDS, the trial was stopped early when more patients developed lung injury in the conventional group, 13.5% versus 2.6% (P = 0.01). The relative risk for developing lung injury with conventional ventilation was 5.1 (95% CI, 1.2–22.6). Plasma IL-6 levels decreased over 4 days and were more pronounced in the low VT group (21 ng/mL versus 11 ng/mL, P = 0.01). BAL cytokine levels including IL-6 tended to be higher in the conventional group, although it was not statistically significant.

A multicenter randomized controlled trial by Mascia et al. enrolled 118 potential organ donors with normal lungs, who received either conventional or protective ventilation [38]. Current guidelines for the management of organ donors suggest 8–15 mL/kg of VT [39, 40]. Patients receiving conventional ventilation were treated with 10–12 mL/kg PBW with a PEEP of 3–5 cm H₂0 for six hours, whereas patients receiving protective ventilation were treated with 6–8 mL/kg PBW with a PEEP of 8–10 cm H₂0 for the same length of time. The results revealed a dramatic increase in the number of eligible lung donors (54% versus 95%, P < 0.001), as well as in the number of patients in whom lungs were harvested (27% versus 54%, P = 0.004), suggesting either a decrease in lung damage due to a less exposure to injurious standard VT ventilation or better lung recruitment with higher levels of PEEP.

The data for high-risk surgical patients also appears to favor the use of prophylactic lung protective ventilation. A trial by Lee et al. in a surgical ICU, excluding neurotrauma and cardiac surgery patients, randomized 103 patients to 12 mL/kg versus 6 mL/kg. They documented a reduction in pulmonary infections, a trend towards a reduced ICU length of stay and a reduced duration of intubation in the group with lower VTs [41]. Fernández-Pérez et al. analyzed, via retrospective chart review, 170 patients undergoing pneumonectomy. The analysis showed that of all the patients 18% developed respiratory failure and 50% of these developed ALI. Those who developed respiratory failure had higher intraoperative VTs compared to those who did not (8.3 versus 6.7 mL/kg P < 0.001, OR 1.56) [42]. Michelet et al. performed a randomized trial with 52 cancer patients undergoing esophagectomy, comparing a VT of 9 mL/kg and zero PEEP (ZEEP) versus 9 mL/kg during two-lung ventilation which was reduced to 5 mL/kg during one-lung ventilation with a PEEP of 5 cm H₂0 [43]. Postoperatively, a reduction in inflammatory cytokines and, more importantly, improved PaO₂/FiO₂ ratios, and a reduction in the duration of intubation were found in the reduced VT group. A small randomized trial of 40 elderly patients undergoing major abdominal surgery compared a VT of 10 mL/kg and ZEEP with 6 mL/kg and 12 cm H₂0 of PEEP with recruitment maneuvers. The major finding was that an “open lung” protective ventilation strategy was tolerated hemodynamically, and despite no change in inflammatory biomarkers, the low VT-high PEEP group had improved intraoperative oxygenation and respiratory mechanics [44].

Conflicting data does exist for high-risk surgical patients. A large prospective case control trial of 4420 consecutive patients undergoing major surgery lasting for >3 hours examined intraoperative ventilator settings and the incidence of ALI, and survival. Three percent of patients (n = 83) developed ALI and it was found that the mean airway pressure in the first hour of ventilation correlated with the development of ALI but no correlation was demonstrated between VT or PEEP and the development of ALI [45]. In addition, in a recent retrospective study of 89 surgical patients admitted with respiratory failure, Hughes et al. were unable to find any correlation between intraoperative VT and the development of ARDS, although most patients in this study were being ventilated with a VT of <10 mL/kg PBW [46].

Cardiac surgery patients seem to be at higher risk of acquiring ALI/ARDS due to the inflammatory changes caused by cardiopulmonary bypass [47, 48]. In cardiac surgery, a number of studies have been performed examining clinical and biochemical changes associated with varying VTs. A reduction in plasma and bronchoalveolar cytokine levels was seen when using a low VT strategy (8 mL/kg and PEEP of 10 compared to 10–12 mL/kg and PEEP of 2-3 cm H₂O) in 40 randomized elective coronary artery bypass surgeries [49]. Other small trials revealed similar reductions in inflammatory markers, although with conflicting results [50–52]. Sundar et al. randomized elective cardiac surgery patients to receive a VT of either 6 or 10 mL/kg PBW. Patients receiving lower VTs were more likely to be liberated from ventilation at 6 hrs after surgery. It is not clear if these effects were related to a strategy of protective ventilation or if they were due to an increase in respiratory drive by the effect of low VT inducing higher PaCO₂ and lower pH levels. Moreover, fewer patients with low VT required reintubation [53].

The largest study concerning cardiac surgery patients examined 3434 consecutive bypass, valve or combined procedures, and the immediate postoperative VTs used. VTs were divided into low (<10 mL/kg PBW), traditional (10–12 mL/kg PBW), or high (>12 mL/kg PBW). A multivariate analysis comparing high versus low VT revealed an increased risk of mechanical ventilation lasting more than 24 hrs (OR 2.4, P = 0.001), hemodynamic instability for more than 48 hrs (OR 1.8, P = 0.007), and a prolonged ICU stay for more than 7 days (OR 1.8, P = 0.045) in the higher VT group. In addition, risk factors for the use of high VT included a BMI > 30 (OR 6.2, P < 0.0001) and female sex (OR 4.3, P < 0.0001) [54].

The data for the use of low VT in patients undergoing lower-risk elective operations is less evident. A trial of 39 low-risk patients undergoing elective surgery randomized patients to 15 mL/kg PBW with ZEEP, 6 mL/kg PBW with ZEEP, or 6 mL/kg PBW with a PEEP of 10 cm H₂0. Plasma cytokine levels were measured after 1 hour of mechanical ventilation. The authors were unable to find any difference in inflammatory biomarkers in any of the groups [55]. In another small trial, investigators randomized patients undergoing elective thoracotomy to receive a VT of 12 mL/kg PBW with ZEEP versus 6 mL/kg PBW with 10 cm H₂O of PEEP and also randomized patients undergoing elective laparotomy to a VT of 15 mL/kg PBW with ZEEP or 6 mL/kg PBW with 10 cm H₂O of PEEP. After 3 hours of ventilation, inflammatory mediators including TNF, IL-1, 6, 8, 10, and 12 were measured in both the plasma and tracheal secretions. They too were unable to find a significant difference between the two groups [26]. Whether cytokine levels are a meaningful endpoint or whether or not 3 hours is sufficient to find a difference may both be limiting factors. Choi et al. analyzed pulmonary inflammation in the bronchoalveolar fluid of 40 patients undergoing elective complex abdominal surgeries with a minimum duration of 5 hrs. Patients were randomized to 12 mL/kg PBW with ZEEP or 6 mL/kg PBW with 10 cm H₂0 of PEEP. Although no clinical differences were found between groups (the study was not powered to find clinical differences), they did find a significant increase in procoagulant biomarkers in patients ventilated with elevated VTs [56].

4. The Clinical Application of Lung Protective Ventilation

The overall goal of lung protective ventilation is to minimize lung trauma by avoiding both overdistention (and associated elevated pressure) and repetitive alveolar collapse, while providing adequate oxygenation and ventilation. What is important to note is that the peak pressure is not necessarily the distending pressure transmitted to the alveoli, and consequently elevated peak pressures are not detrimental to the lung per se. The actual distending pressure of the alveoli is better reflected by the plateau pressure, which can be easily achieved by performing an inspiratory pause on the ventilator in a volume-controlled mode. In truth, the transmitted pressure or transpulmonary pressure, calculated as the difference between the alveolar and pleural pressures [57], is what causes alveolar trauma, although it can be more difficult to measure and monitor at the bedside. As such, to minimize the risk of developing VILI, one should monitor and maintain the plateau pressure below 30 cm H₂0, unless your ICU has the capability of reliably measuring transpulmonary pressure.

To avoid alveolar overdistention and volutrauma, a VT of 6 mL/kg PBW is recommended for ALI or ARDS patients. Of note, it is crucial that the PBW and not the actual body weight (ABW) be used to calculate tidal volume. The use of ABW may overestimate the required VT [58]. In patients without ALI/ARDS current evidence suggests that a VT between 6–8 mL/Kg PBW in patients at risk of ALI/ARDS should be used, and, in patients without risk factors, a VT ≤ 10 mL/kg PBW is appropriate.

PEEP has several benefits in lung protective ventilation. PEEP is used to keep the alveoli open and to minimize atelectotrauma: a “lung-open” strategy. PEEP also protects from alveolar derecruitment and secondary hypoxemia while minimizing the amount of inspired oxygen required, thereby avoiding denitrogenation atelectasis and potential oxygen toxicity [59]. Another way to avoid atelectasis is to reduce the FiO₂, as levels above 60% can cause denitrogenation atelectasis [60–62]. To this end, the SpO₂ target must be reduced in the case of ARDS patients to 88–92% [33, 63]. From clinical data, PEEP ranging between 5 and 24 cm H₂0 is not only safe but is associated with improved oxygenation, less need of rescue therapy for refractory hypoxemia, and reduced multiorgan failure [29, 30, 34]. Although the optimal level of PEEP is still controversial, the use of zero PEEP (ZEEP) has been associated with worse outcomes, including increased hypoxemia, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and hospital mortality [64, 65]. How and to what level PEEP should be titrated to remains unclear. Some authors have used pressure-volume curves and the lower inflection point to titrate PEEP with good results [32]. The ALVEOLI and LOVS trials used a set PEEP sliding scale based on the FiO₂ with a maximum plateau pressure of 30 or 40 cmH₂0, respectively [29, 30]. The EXPRESS trial used the maximum amount of PEEP as long as the peak pressure remained below 30 cm H₂0 [31]. In a pilot study by Talmor et al. patients with ARDS were randomized to a strategy of esophageal balloon directed estimation of pleural pressures and consequently used the calculated transpulmonary pressures to guide PEEP titration. The control group was managed as per the ARDS Network protocol including a PEEP sliding scale based on FiO₂. This single centre pilot trial demonstrated a significant improvement in oxygenation, pulmonary compliance, and 28-day mortality [66]. In patients without ALI/ARDS, PEEP levels between 5 and 12 cm H₂O have been used in conjunction with low tidal volume and usually ≥8 cm H₂O (Tables 1 and 2). Therefore we suggest starting with a PEEP level of 8 cm H₂O and titrating up or down depending on the FiO₂ and the hemodynamic status of the patient.

Due to the reduction in VT and subsequent minute ventilation, carbon dioxide levels are often elevated in these patients and the hypercapnia tolerated, a concept referred to as permissive hypercapnia [67]. To avoid severe respiratory acidosis (ph < 7.20), the respiratory rate needs to be increased, often up to 30 breaths/min. For patients with risk factors for ARDS such as sepsis, a starting respiratory rate of 20 or more is suggested to avoid severe acidosis following initial intubation and ventilation with 6–8 mL/kg PBW. In addition, the humidification system used with the ventilator is particularly important and can be a significant contributor to increased respiratory acidosis. To reduce the severity of hypercapnia, reduction of dead space can be easily accomplished by using a heated humidifier instead of a heat and moisture exchanger [68–74] (Table 3).

Table 3.

Recommended initial lung protective mechanical ventilator settings following intubation in patients without ALI/ARDS.

	Patients without risk factors for ALI/ARDS	Patients with risk factors for ALI/ARDS*
VT (mL/kg PBW)	<10	6–8
Respiratory rate (breath/min)	≥15	≥20
PEEP (cm H2O)	≥5	≥8
FiO2 (%)	<60**	<60**
Target SpO2 (%)†	92–96	92–96
Humidification device	HME***	HME***

*Major risk factors for acquired ALI/ARDS include: Sepsis, trauma, blood transfusions, cardiopulmonary bypass, and others.

**The lowest FiO₂ to achieve an acceptable SpO₂ should be used.

***The heterogeneity of the HME should be known, and, if severe respiratory acidosis occurs, heated humidifiers should be used instead [68].

^†If FiO₂ requirements are above 60%, a target SpO₂ of 88–92% should be tolerated [63].

VT: tidal volume, PBW: predicted body weight, and HME: heat and moisture exchangers.

5. Challenges and Controversy to the Use of Protective Ventilation

Although convincing data has accumulated in the literature, protective ventilation is not as widely used as it should be, and there remains some controversy in the most appropriate way to prescribe and titrate lung protective ventilation [75]. Should all patients with ARDS receive the same 6 mL/kg PBW of ventilation? This question has been raised by a number of leading authors in the field of mechanical ventilation and ARDS and remains controversial [76–78]. Although the results of the ARMA trial were positive, other similar smaller trials were not [11–15], and there is evidence that the correlation between PBW, height, and lung volume is lost in patients with ARDS as compared to normal controls [79, 80]. Furthermore, the lung strain and potential injury induced by a given VT is dependant on the amount of “baby lung,” and this is highly variable between patients [81, 82]. In an editorial in 2005, Deans et al. highlight the relationship between pulmonary compliance and mortality in the ARMA trial. Patients with a low compliance had a higher mortality if receiving a higher VT. However, patients with higher baseline pulmonary compliance had an increase in mortality when receiving a lower VT therefore suggesting that all patients should not receive the same prescribed VT [76]. Gattinoni suggests a tailored approach to setting up mechanical ventilation with measurements of lung volume and transpulmonary pressures, although her admits that, should these methods not be possible in an individual centre, a lower VT compared to a higher VT is almost always more appropriate [77].

There are multiple reasons why clinicians underuse low-VT ventilation. There is a general underrecognition of ALI and ARDS in clinical practice, and, consequently, many patients who could benefit from this therapy are not receiving appropriate treatment [75, 83]. In an attempt to identify patients less likely to receive lung protective ventilation, a recent study found that demographic factors including height, race, and lower simplified acute physiology II (SAPS II) scores were associated with underuse of low-VT ventilation [84].

The use of protective ventilation does require more advanced knowledge of ventilator management, and, depending on the availability of local expertise, clinicians may be unable or reluctant to make the necessary adjustments. In order to maintain adequate minute ventilation, one is often required to aggressively increase the respiratory rate, sometimes above 30 breaths/min. This may lead to the development of dynamic hyperinflation and auto-PEEP which can have significant negative respiratory and hemodynamic consequences [85]. Due to short time constants and low lung compliance in patients with ALI/ARDS, this risk is usually limited below 30 breaths/minute [86]. However, the ability to recognize patients at risk for auto-PEEP as well as to accurately recognize the presence of dynamic hyperinflation from abnormal ventilator waveforms is fundamental to safe clinical practice [87]. Quickly analyzing the flow and pressure waveforms of most ventilators can identify most patients with dynamic hyperinflation or auto-PEEP. When the end-expiratory flow is below the zero baseline, dynamic hyperinflation exists. By performing an expiratory flow occlusion maneuver, the static auto-PEEP can be measured which corresponds to the mean PEEP of all lung units [88].

An additional concern associated with low tidal volume ventilation is the development of significant patient-ventilator dyssynchrony. Dyssynchrony can occur in any patient who is mechanically ventilated and in particular patients who are not sedated or who have a high drive to breathe. Although many types of patient-ventilator dyssynchrony occur, the most important for ARDS patients relates to flow dyssynchrony, which occurs when the volume or flow delivered to the patient fails to meet the respiratory demand or the neural drive to breathe [89]. Dyssynchrony cannot only cause intense patient anxiety and a sense of dyspnea, which occurs commonly in ventilated patients, but can increase the work of breathing and cause respiratory muscle fatigue [90–92]. In order to minimize patient-ventilator dyssynchrony, the clinician must routinely examine the patient for signs of distress and the ventilator for abnormal waveforms [93]. Titrating the inspiratory flow based on both the physical exam and waveform analysis can help minimize the dyssynchrony and usually requires a flow of at least 80 L/min but should be individualized for each patient and titrated when needed. The use of a decelerating flow waveform can also be used to deliver high inspiratory flows with a relatively longer inspiratory time which can avoid the problem of double triggering that occurs with the shorter inspiratory times associated with a square waveform [92]. Some patients with high minute ventilation remain dyssynchronous with tidal volumes of 6 mL/kg PBW and either require heavy sedation, paralysis, or an increase in VT. However, in centers experienced with ALI/ARDS, a low tidal volume strategy did not overall increase the use of sedation, and the recent large randomized trial examining the use of neuromuscular blockers in acute ARDS has alleviated some concerns regarding the risks of sedation and paralysis if needed [94, 95]. Moreover, in the initial ARMA study, patients were allowed an increase in VT to 8 mL/kg PBW if significant dyssynchrony occurred, as long as the plateau pressures remained below 30 cm H₂O, and in a study by Kallet et al., a tidal volume of 8 mL/kg PBW was associated with a reduction in the work of breathing; therefore this may be an appropriate maneuver to avoid severe patient-ventilator dyssynchrony [91].

Physicians' additional concerns for hypercapnia, acidosis, and hypoxemia have also led to barriers in implementing protective ventilation [96]. Permissive hypercapnia should be tolerated in patients undergoing protective ventilation although to what degree is still unclear. In an attempt to determine the safety and lung protective effects of extreme hypercapnia, surfactant depleted rabbits were ventilated with progressively lower VTs and targeted a progressively higher PaCO₂. There was significantly less lung injury when ventilated with a VT of 4-5 mL/kg and an associated PaCO₂ of 80 mmHg (pH = 7.09) compared to 8–10 mL/kg with a PaCO₂ of 40 mmHg (pH = 7.29). Even in animals with a VT of 3-4 mL/kg and a PaCO₂ of 120 mmHg (pH = 6.98) or 2-3 mL/kg and a PaCO₂ of 160 mmHg (pH = 6.91), lung protection was preserved and without hemodynamic consequences [97]. Knowledge of the potential adverse effects of hypercapnia on the cardiovascular, respiratory, and other organ systems is still critical in order to avoid serious adverse effects. Some important physiologic considerations due to hypercarbia include the negative effects of acidosis on cardiovascular hemodynamics, pulmonary hypertension due to pulmonary arterial vasoconstriction, and elevation of intracranial pressure due to cerebral vasodilation [67]. In our practice we tolerate respiratory acidosis with pH values as low as 7.20 in very severe ARDS patients after dead space minimization and optimization of the respiratory rate have been performed, but the lower acceptable value is not clearly determined.

Hypoxia secondary to derecruitment atelectasis associated with low VT ventilation, although a concern, should be placed in the appropriate context. It is recommended to target a SpO₂ of 88–92% in ARDS patients in order to minimize the delivered FiO₂, and the use of both recruitment maneuvers and higher levels of PEEP in nonhypovolemic patients may be helpful to reduce FiO₂ requirements in certain clinical situations (following ventilator disconnect for suctioning or transport) but should not be systematically used. In the landmark ARDS Network study, the reduction in VT was associated with a lower PaO₂, which did not impede the reduction in overall mortality [11]. Indeed, clinicians often target oxygen levels that are excessively high. A recent analysis examined clinicians' response to hyperoxia in 5498 mechanically ventilated patients. In this study, 22% of arterial blood gases had PaO₂ levels greater than 120 mmHg, and in only 25% of those blood gases, the FiO₂ levels were adjusted [98]. Studies examining the effects of hyperoxia in mechanically ventilated animal lungs have shown that high FiO₂ is associated with increased oxidative injury, impaired immunity, and death [99]. Large clinical trials in humans are unfortunately lacking. However, human data examining the physiologic effects of hyperoxia does exist and includes impaired myocardial blow flow, increased myocardial consumption, and reduced cerebral blood flow due to arterial vasoconstriction [100–102]. Thus, in patients ventilated without lung injury, where hyperoxia is easily obtained, one should minimize FiO₂ levels to avoid potential systemic oxygen toxicity.

It takes many years to implement research findings into clinical practice, a process referred to as knowledge translation [103, 104]. Indeed, despite the evidence showing that a reduced VT strategy is associated with improved outcomes, clinicians still routinely use VTs greater than 10 mL/kg [105, 106]. Eight years following the original landmark ARDS Network paper, Umoh et al. still found that only 46% of eligible patients received low VT ventilation in nine ICUs of three different teaching hospitals [106]. Studies showing the best implementation of protective ventilation were carried out in centers participating in mechanical ventilation networks [107], but this does not reflect real-life practice, where protective ventilation in ARDS patients is even less successfully applied [108].

Even when ICU physicians attempt to use protective ventilation in their everyday practice, the use of actual instead of PBW in the calculation of VT is a frequent error, leading to overtreatment with higher VTs. PBW in men is calculated as 50 (45 in women) + 0.91 (Height cm −152.4) [11]. In many instances, the height of the patient is not immediately known. This is especially true outside of the surgical ICU (i.e., emergency department, postanesthesia recovery room or medical ICU) because surgical ICUs are more likely to have height and weight measurements due to the operative record [58]. In addition, visual estimation of patient height and weight is known to be inaccurate [109–111], and shorter patients, often women, tend to be more severely affected [54, 112]. The ability to rapidly calculate PBW at the bedside is important. Novel devices such as applications on smartphones, (e.g., iAnthropometer ICU), where one can quickly take a bedside picture of a patients leg and calculate the patients height based on validated formulas, and automatically derive the PBW and subsequent VTs, are promising tools (Figure 1) [113]. This application was more accurate at calculating patient height than both the method of visual estimation and supine in-bed tape measurement [114].

Figure 1.

iAnthropometer II smartphone application for the assessment of PBW [113]. This smartphone application facilitates the calculation of patient height via digital measurement of leg length and subsequently calculates the PBW and the appropriate corresponding VT.

Automated mechanical ventilation systems are another way to help implement protective ventilation. In a preliminary study, we evaluated the new Intellivent system (Hamilton medical, Bonaduz, Switzerland) in patients after cardiac surgery [115]. We showed that VTs were automatically reduced below 10 mL/kg of PBW after a few minutes of mechanical ventilation, and the respiratory rate was automatically increased to maintain a stable minute ventilation. These closed-loop systems will likely become more widely available given the results of promising initial clinical evaluations [116–119].

6. Conclusion

The routine use of protective ventilation in all ventilated patients is not yet recommended, but more liberal use of this currently restricted treatment may be justified. Schultz et al. recommend a VT of 6 mL/kg PBW in patients with ALI/ARDS or in patients with risk factors for the development of lung injury [120], such as multiple transfusions, trauma, sepsis, or high-risk surgery. In other mechanically ventilated patients, they recommend the use of VTs below 10 mL/Kg PBW from the initiation of mechanical ventilation. This is in agreement with our findings in patients undergoing cardiac surgery [54]. Whether there is a benefit in other subgroups of patients, such as those intubated for congestive heart failure or other high-risk surgeries or trauma patients, is unknown, and further studies are needed. Moreover, it remains unclear if and how VT should be individualized. As technology improves, measurements of lung volume and transpulmonary pressures may become more technically feasible, affordable, and reliable. However for the majority of clinicians this practice is currently restricted to selected specialized centers and to the field of research.

Given the unpredictability of developing ALI/ARDS throughout the course of apost illness, a ventilation strategy that incorporates low VT and high PEEP in the majority of intubated patients is warranted and is in agreement with other authors [78, 104]. This paradigm shift in the management of mechanical ventilation changes the goal of treatment from limiting disease progression (i.e., in patients already suffering from ALI/ARDS) to disease prevention. Patients who may not benefit from this strategy are those who are otherwise healthy and are undergoing routine elective surgery. Given the proven safety of this approach, the physiologic rationale, and the current evidence, mechanically ventilated patients who do not have ARDS but who remain at risk for ALI/ARDS should be ventilated with a VT between 6–8 mL/kg PBW while those without risk factors should receive ≤10 mL/kg PBW to prevent progressive lung injury. Compared to patients with ARDS who often have a significant amount of recruitable lung units and higher oxygenation requirements, the amount of PEEP required for patients without ARDS is therefore much less, and based on current evidence, we suggest an initial setting of 8 cm H₂O which should be titrated based on the individual patients oxygenation requirements.

There is clear evidence from large randomized trials that protective ventilation can reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with ALI and ARDS. More recently, significant data has emerged which suggests that a protective ventilation strategy in patients without ALI/ARDS may lead to a reduction in inflammation, less organ dysfunction, and less ALI. Patients at highest risk are those within the ICU with sepsis, trauma, or shock, high-risk surgical patients, or those undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. How this therapy should be individualized to patients with variable respiratory and cardiovascular physiology remains controversial and future studies will be required to identify if all patients undergoing mechanical ventilation would benefit from lower tidal volumes, lower plateau pressures, and higher levels of PEEP.