Fig. 3.

High intersubject variability of aerosol penetration through the lungs and its deposition between the right and the left lung during pressure support ventilation and volume-controlled ventilation. a A penetration index equal to 1 indicated a linear aerosol penetration from the inner to the outer part of the lungs. Particles deposition was limited to the central airways with both ventilation modes. b A right/left lung deposition ratio equal to 1 indicated a similar aerosol deposition in both lungs. Right lung deposition was predominant with both ventilation modes, especially during volume-controlled ventilation. c Scintigraphic images of aerosol lung deposition in two patients in volume-controlled ventilation (left) and two patients in pressure support ventilation (right). With both ventilation modes, the first patient on the left benefits of a symmetrical aerosol lung deposition while a predominant left lung or right lung deposition is depicted in the patient on the right. Aerosol penetration from the inner to the outer lung region varies also among patients