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Biomedical subjects

J Milic-Emili

Publications and source records attributed to J Milic-Emili.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Alveolar pressure measurement in open-chest rats.

In open-chest rats, alveolar pressure was measured with alveolar capsules connected via pliable tubing to inductive pressure transducers. By means of the interrupter technique during constant-flow inflation, it was possible to determine pulmonary static elastance (Est,L) and tissue and airway resistances (Rdiff,L and Rinit,L, respectively). In eight anesthetized paralyzed mechanically ventilated rats, 118 measurements of Rdiff,L and Est,L were performed over a wide range of flows and tidal volumes. There was excellent agreement between the data calculated using transpulmonary pressures and those computed using capsule pressures, the latter being measured at different points of the lung. In another group of rats studied under the same experimental conditions, two capsules were simultaneously placed on different pulmonary lobes. No regional differences in pulmonary mechanics could be detected in either experiment. In addition, alveolar pressure could also be measured accurately by a catheter inserted into lung parenchyma.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Effect of PEEP on the mechanics of the respiratory system in ARDS patients.

In patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) we studied the effect of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on respiratory mechanics. We used the technique of rapid airway occlusion during constant flow (V) inflation to partition the total respiratory system resistance (Rrs) into the interrupter resistance (Rint,rs) and the additional resistance (delta Rrs) due to viscoelastic pressure dissipations and time constant inequalities. We also measured static (Est,rs) and dynamic (Edyn,rs) elastance of the respiratory system. The procedure was carried out in nine ARDS patients at different inspiratory V and inflation volumes (delta V) at PEEP of 0, 5, 10, and 15 cmH2O. We found that during baseline ventilation (delta V = 0.7 liter and V = 1 l/s), Est,rs, Edyn,rs, and Rint,rs did not change significantly with PEEP, whereas delta Rrs and Rrs increased significantly only with PEEP of 15 cmH2O. The increase of delta Rrs and Rrs with PEEP was positively correlated with the concomitant changes in end-expiratory lung volume (P < 0.001). At all levels of PEEP, under iso-delta V conditions, delta Rrs decreased with increasing V, whereas at a fixed V, delta Rrs increased with increasing delta V. A four-parameter model of the respiratory system failed to fully describe respiratory dynamics in the ARDS patients, probably due to nonlinearities.

Airway Resistance↗
PubMed1992

Effect of PEEP on respiratory mechanics in anesthetized paralyzed humans.

With the use of the technique of rapid airway occlusion during constant flow inflation, respiratory mechanics were studied in eight anesthetized paralyzed supine normal humans during zero (ZEEP) and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) ventilation. PEEP increased the end-expiratory lung volume by 0.49 liter. The changes in transpulmonary and esophageal pressure after flow interruption were analyzed in terms of a seven-parameter "viscoelastic" model. This allowed assessment of static lung and chest wall elastance (Est,L and Est,W), partitioning of overall resistance into airway interrupter (Rint,L) and tissue resistances (delta RL and delta RW), and computation of lung and chest wall "viscoelastic constants." With increasing flow, Rint,L increased, whereas delta RL and delta RW decreased, as predicted by the model. Est,L, Est,W, and Rint,L decreased significantly with PEEP because of increased lung volume, whereas delta R and viscoelastic constants of lung and chest wall were independent of PEEP. The results indicate that PEEP caused a significant decrease in Rint,L, Est,L, and Est,W, whereas the dynamic tissue behavior, as reflected by delta RL and delta RW, did not change.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1992

Flow and volume dependence of respiratory system flow resistance in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome.

Using a simple and rapid technique, we studied the flow and volume dependence of the total resistance of the respiratory system (Rrs) in six patients with ARDS. At any given inflation volume, Rrs decreased progressively with increasing flow (V) according to the following hyperbolic function: Rrs = a/V + b, where a and b are constants. At any fixed inflation flow, Rrs increased progressively with increasing inflation volume. The observed flow and volume dependence of Rrs is probably mainly due to the viscoelastic properties of the pulmonary and chest wall tissues. The flow and volume dependence of Rrs found in the patients with ARDS is qualitatively similar to that previously observed in normal anesthetized paralyzed subjects. In ARDS, however, Rrs was considerably greater than in the normal subjects, indicating that besides a low respiratory compliance ARDS is characterized by a high flow resistance. This mainly reflects increased effective flow resistance of the pulmonary and chest wall tissues, although airway resistance is also higher than normal.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Effect of tidal volume on gas exchange and oxygen transport in the adult respiratory distress syndrome.

The effect of tidal volume (VT) on gas exchange and oxygen delivery (DO2) was studied in nine patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and in 10 postoperative open-heart surgery patients (CABG). During controlled mechanical ventilation, VT was initially 10 to 12 ml/kg, followed by an increase and reduction of 25% (1.25 VT and 0.75 VT, respectively). In both groups of patients, dead space (VD) correlated strongly with VT (p < 0.001), while the VD/VT ratio was independent of VT. PaO2 tended to increase in CABG patients and decrease in ARDS patients at 1.25 VT. Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) did not change at 1.25 VT but decreased at 0.75 VT (p < 0.001) in the ARDS group. Venous admixture (QS/QT) decreased with 1.25 VT and increased with 0.75 VT (p < 0.001). A relatively larger increase in cardiac output compensated for the increased QS/QT and the reduced SaO2, resulting in significantly higher DO2 with 0.75 VT (p < 0.01). A lower VT resulted in improved balance between pulmonary gas exchange and whole body oxygen supply.

Blood Gas Analysis↗
PubMed1992

Effects of PEEP on respiratory mechanics after open heart surgery.

Respiratory dysfunction, particularly atelectasis, is common after open heart surgery. Routine use of PEEP (5 to 10 cm H2O) in these patients has been advocated. We studied the effects of different levels of PEEP on respiratory mechanics in ten mechanically ventilated open heart surgery patients in the immediate postoperative period. PEEP was studied in increasing increments and decreasing decrements. This procedure was repeated three times. Flow, tidal volume, and airway pressure were measured. We used the rapid airway occlusion technique to determine static compliance of the respiratory system (Cst,rs) and intrinsic PEEP (PEEPi). The changes in end-expiratory lung volume (delta EELV) were measured with respiratory inductive plethysmography. Recruitment of lung units (Vrec) was estimated as the difference in lung volume between PEEP and zero end-expiratory (ZEEP) for the same static inflation pressure (15 cm H2O). We found that (1) Cst,rs at ZEEP was significantly reduced (60 +/- 2 ml/cm H2O); (2) while PEEP of 5 cm H2O did not cause significant recruitment, higher levels of PEEP (10 to 15 cm H2O) were effective; (3) Cst,rs, Vrec, and delta EELV were higher during stepwise PEEP decrease; (4) after the first and second stepwise PEEP increase-decrease run, there was a small persistent increase in EELV and Cst,rs at ZEEP. No further changes were found after the third run. We conclude that after open heart surgery, PEEP less than 10 cm H2O is not effective to reopen atelectatic lung units.

Aortic Valve↗
PubMed1992

[The visco-elastic behavior of the respiratory system during mechanical ventilation. Interpretation with the aid of a model].

The purpose of this review is to present an approach to the visco-elastic properties of the respiratory system in the mechanically ventilated patient through the method of occlusion of the airways at a constant inspiratory flow rate. The ideas of airways resistance, tissue resistance, static and dynamic elastance are defined from the theoretical point of view and also from the point of view of the occlusion method. A large part is given to the bicompartmental model describing the visco-elastic properties of the lung and of the thoracic wall. Recently carried out experimental studies both in healthy man and in disease have given results which seem to confirm the predictions made by this model. According to this system the lungs may be represented as a homogenous whole surrounded by visco-elastic components.

Airway Resistance↗
PubMed1991

Airway pressures during crying: an index of respiratory muscle strength in infants with neuromuscular disease.

The purpose of this study was to assess the strength of the respiratory muscles in 12 infants with neuromuscular disease (age range: 0.17-2.08 years) by measuring the maximal inspiratory and expiratory airway pressures (Pimax and PEmax) during crying efforts. Infants were divided into two groups according to their respiratory history. Group A included six infants in stable condition without clinical evidence of respiratory abnormalities, and Group B included six infants with severe generalized muscle weakness and previous respiratory failure. The infants in Group B had been weaned from mechanical ventilation 6 to 14 days before being studied. For infants of Group A, Pimax and PEmax values were 77 +/- 28 cmH2O and 62 +/- 18 cmH2O, respectively; for infants of Group B, they were 38 +/- 8 cmH2O and 34 +/- 8 cmH2O, respectively. A positive correlation was found between PEmax and body mass percentile. No infant had hypercapnia at the time of the study, and Pao2 values in infants of Group B were significantly lower than those of Group A. These results suggest that measurements of airway pressures during crying may provide an index of respiratory muscle strength in infants with generalized muscle weakness.

Airway Resistance↗
PubMed1991

Pulmonary and chest wall mechanics in anesthetized paralyzed humans.

Pulmonary and chest wall mechanics were studied in 18 anesthetized paralyzed supine humans by use of the technique of rapid airway occlusion during constant-flow inflation. Analysis of the changes in transpulmonary pressure after flow interruption allowed partitioning of the overall resistance of the lung (RL) into two compartments, one (Rint,L) reflecting airway resistance and the other (delta RL) representing the viscoelastic properties of the pulmonary tissues. Similar analysis of the changes in esophageal pressure indicates that chest wall resistance (RW) was due entirely to the viscoelastic properties of the chest wall tissues (delta RW = RW). In line with previous measurements of airway resistance, Rint,L increased with increasing flow and decreased with increasing volume. The opposite was true for both delta RL and delta RW. This behavior was interpreted in terms of a viscoelastic model that allowed computation of the viscoelastic constants of the lung and chest wall. This model also accounts for frequency, volume, and flow dependence of elastance of the lung and chest wall. Static and dynamic elastances, as well as delta R, were higher for the lung than for the chest wall.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Analysis of behavior of the respiratory system in ARDS patients: effects of flow, volume, and time.

The effects of inspiratory flow (V) and inflation volume (delta V) on the mechanical properties of the respiratory system in eight ARDS patients were investigated using the technique of rapid airway occlusion during constant-flow inflation. We measured interrupter resistance (Rint,rs), which in humans represents airway resistance, the additional resistance (delta Rrs) due to viscoelastic pressure dissipations and time constant inequalities, and static (Est,rs) and dynamic (Edyn,rs) elastance. The results were compared with a previous study on 16 normal anesthetized paralyzed humans (D'Angelo et al. J. Appl. Physiol. 67: 2556-2564, 1989). We observed that 1) resistance and elastance were higher in ARDS patients; 2) with increasing V, Rint,rs and Est,rs did not change, delta Rrs decreased progressively, and Edyn,rs increased progressively; 3) with increasing delta V, Rint,rs decreased slightly, delta Rrs increased progressively, and Est,rs and Edyn,rs showed an initial decrease followed by a secondary increase noted only in the ARDS patients. The above findings could be explained in terms of a model incorporating a standard resistance in parallel with a standard elastance and a series spring-and-dashpot body that represents the stress adaptation units within the tissues of the respiratory system.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Effects of volume history and vagotomy on pulmonary and chest wall mechanics in cats.

Using the technique of rapid airway occlusion during constant-flow inflation, we studied the effects of inflation volume, different baseline tidal volumes (10, 20, and 30 ml/kg), and vagotomy on the resistive and elastic properties of the lungs and chest wall in six anesthetized tracheotomized paralyzed mechanically ventilated cats. Before vagotomy, airway resistance decreased significantly with increasing inflation volume at all baseline tidal volumes. At any given inflation volume, airway resistance decreased with increasing baseline tidal volume. After vagotomy, airway resistance decreased markedly and was no longer affected by baseline tidal volume. Prevagotomy, pulmonary tissue resistance increased progressively with increasing lung volume and was not affected by baseline tidal volume. Pulmonary tissue resistance decreased postvagotomy. Chest wall tissue resistance increased during lung inflation but was not affected by either baseline tidal volume or vagotomy. The static volume-pressure relationships of the lungs and chest wall were not affected by either baseline tidal volume or vagotomy. The data were interpreted in terms of a linear viscoelastic model of the respiratory system (J. Appl. Physiol. 67: 2276-2285, 1989).

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Flow resistance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in acute respiratory failure. Effects of flow and volume.

The flow and volume dependence of the total resistance of the respiratory system (Rrs) was investigated in six mechanically ventilated patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using a simple, rapid method. Isovolume Rrs-flow (V) relationships obtained at different inflation volumes (range 0.1 to 1 L) fitted (p less than 0.001) the following function: Rrs = a/V + b + cV, where a, b, and c are constants. The term "a/V" in this equation represents the hyperbolic decrease in thoracic tissue resistance with increasing flow; the term "cV" represents the linear increase in airway resistance with increasing flow. Rrs initially decreased with increasing V because at low flow the weight of the a/V was greater than that of the cV. At higher flow, however, cV became predominant and hence Rrs tended to increase. At an inflation volume of 0.5 L, minimum Rrs occurred at average inflation flow of 1.28 L/s. At low flow, Rrs increased progressively with increasing inflation volume; at inflation V greater than 1 L/s, the highest values of Rrs were obtained at low inflation volumes. The flow and volume dependence of Rrs implies that, for comparative purposes, measurements of Rrs should be standardized to a fixed inflation flow and volume.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Effects of positive end-expiratory pressure, lung volume, and inspiratory flow on interrupter resistance in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome.

Although it has been shown in normal subjects that airway resistance changes significantly with changes in lung volume and inspiratory flow, no studies have as yet examined these phenomena in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The effect of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on airway resistance in ARDS also is unknown. We have used the technique of rapid airway occlusion during constant-flow inflation to measure the interrupter resistance (Rint,rs), which in humans is thought to correspond to airway resistance, in nine patients with ARDS under different inflation flows and volumes. This procedure was carried out at four levels of PEEP (0, 5, 10, and 15 cm H2O). We found that (1) at constant inflation volume, Rint,rs did not change significantly with increasing flow; (2) at constant inflation flow, Rint,rs showed an initial decrease followed by a distinct rise with increasing lung volume; (3) on average, PEEP did not significantly change Rint,rs measured during baseline ventilation; and (4) this latter finding occurred because patients behaved differently with application of PEEP, depending on their degree of lung inflation: Rint,rs measured close to full inflation almost invariably exhibited a rise, but values obtained at lower volumes exhibited the characteristic decrease of Rint,rs with increasing inflation volume.

Airway Resistance↗
PubMed1991

Effects of positive end-expiratory pressure on alveolar recruitment and gas exchange in patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome.

The effects of different levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) (zero to 15 cm H2O) on the static inflation volume-pressure (V-P) curve of the respiratory system and on gas exchange were studied in eight patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Alveolar recruitment with PEEP was quantified in terms of recruited volume, i.e., as difference in lung volume between PEEP and zero end-expiratory pressure (ZEEP) for the same static inflation pressure (20 cm H2O) from the V-P curves obtained at the different PEEP levels. In addition, static compliance of the respiratory system at fixed tidal volume (0.7 L) was determined at the different PEEP levels. The results suggest that: (1) in some patients with ARDS the V-P curves determined on ZEEP exhibit an upward concavity reflecting progressive alveolar recruitment with increasing inflation volume, and PEEP results in alveolar recruitment (range of recruited volume at 15 cm H2O of PEEP: 0.11 to 0.36 L); (2) in other patients with ARDS the V-P curves on ZEEP are characterized by an upward convexity, and PEEP results in a volume displacement along this curve without alveolar recruitment and with enhanced risk of barotrauma; (3) the PEEP-induced increase in arterial oxygenation is significantly correlated to the recruited volume but not to the changes in static compliance. The shape of the static inflation V-P curves on ZEEP allows the prediction of alveolar recruitment with PEEP.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

A single-compartment model cannot describe passive expiration in intubated, paralysed humans.

The time-course of thoracic volume changes (respiratory inductive plethysmograph) during relaxed expiration was studied in 11 intubated, paralysed, mechanically ventilated subjects. The semilog volume-time curves show that expiration is governed by two apparently separate mechanisms: one causes emptying of most of the expired volume (approximately 80%) with a time constant of 0.50 +/- 0.22 s for a baseline tidal volume of 0.44 +/- 0.12 l (mean +/- SD) and 0.37 +/- 0.14 s when the tidal volume is reduced (VTP); the other contributes a relatively small amount to the expired volume over a significantly longer time, the time constant amounting to 3.27 +/- 1.54 s for baseline VT and 2.95 +/- 1.65 s for VTp. The first mechanism probably reflects the standard elastic and flow resistive properties of the respiratory system, while the second, slower compartment, is probably an expression of the viscoelastic properties of the pulmonary and chest wall tissues.

Adult↗