Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the patients (n = 19)
| Characteristic | |
|---|---|
| Male, n (%) | 13 (68.4) |
| Age (years) | 72 ± 10 |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 28 ± 6 |
| SAPS II score | 65 ± 15 |
| Etiology of ARDS, n (%) | |
| Pneumonia/aspiration | 16 (84.2) |
| Sepsis | 2 (10.5) |
| Pancreatitis | 1 (5.3) |
| Organ failure at baseline (SOFA), n (%) | |
| Hemodynamic | 18 (94.7) |
| Renal | 9 (47.4) |
| Hepatic | 0 (0) |
| Hematological | 2 (10.5) |
| Arterial blood gas | |
| PaO2/FiO2 ratio | 92 ± 31 |
| FiO2 (%) | 80 ± 21 |
| pH | 7.31 ± 0.11 |
| PaCO2 (mmHg) | 45 ± 10 |
| HCO3- (mmol/l) | 22.4 ± 4.0 |
| Base excess | − 3.4 ± 5.1 |
| Lactates (mmol/l) | 1.6 ± 1.0 |
| Hemodynamic variables | |
| Heart rate (beats/min) | 99 ± 27 |
| Systolic arterial pressure (mmHg) | 127 ± 23 |
| Diastolic arterial pressure (mmHg) | 59 ± 12 |
| Mean arterial pressure (mmHg) | 82 ± 13 |
| Respiratory mechanics | |
| Minute ventilation (L/min) | 9.6 ± 1.6 |
| Tidal volume (ml/kg PBW) | 6.1 ± 0.4 |
| EELV (ml) | 1319 ± 626 |
| Aspect of ARDS, n (%) | |
| Patchy | 6 (31.6) |
| Diffuse | 10 (52.6) |
| Focal | 3 (15.8) |
| Mortality at Hospital discharge | 10/19 (53%) |
Results are expressed as number (%), or mean ± standard deviation
SAPS 2: Simplified Acute Physiology Score 2; ARDS: acute respiratory distress syndrome; PBW: predicted body weight. SOFA: sepsis-related organ failure assessment; EELV: end-expiratory lung volume (ml)