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Biomechanical Implications of Mass Loading in a Swine Model of Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Biomechanical Implications of Mass Loading in a Swine Model of Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure

Alice Nova, Yi Xin, Marcus Victor, Timothy G Gaulton, Glasiele C Alcala, Tilo Winkler, Sarah E Gerard, Rehab Khalid, Rajiv Gupta, Emanuele Rezoagli, …
Journal of applied physiology (1985), Vol.139(3), pp.849-862
09/01/2025
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00377.2025
PMID: 40864615

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Abstract

In obesity, excess weight of the chest and abdomen (mass loading) decreases lung volume and can worsen acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF). We investigated whether positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) fully reverses the effects of mass loading on lung volume and respiratory mechanics in an AHRF swine model. Eighteen Yorkshire pigs were studied: six healthy, eight pre- and post-injury, and four post-injury only. We randomly tested three mass loading conditions: without mass loading, with abdominal loading (6kg weight), and with combined abdominal and chest mass loading (12kg total weight). We performed a recruitment maneuver in each condition followed by a decremental PEEP trial and identified the best-PEEP as that with the greatest respiratory system compliance (C ). Airway pressure, esophageal pressure, and thoracic impedance by electrical impedance tomography) were continuously monitored. After lung injury, best-PEEP increased with loading. C at best-PEEP decreased from 20.6 ± 3.4 ml/cmH O without loading to 17.7 ± 3.0 ml/cmH O with abdominal loading (mean difference 2.9, 95% CI 1.6-4.2) and to 14.2 ± 2.8 ml/cmH O with abdominal and chest loading (mean difference 6.3, 95% CI 5.0-7.7). Any amount of loading decreased end-expiratory lung volume assessed by computed tomography (CT) at best-PEEP and PEEP 3 cmH O. Combined abdominal-chest loading decreased the vertical lung dimension on CT compared to unloaded and abdominal loading at both levels of PEEP. With mass loading, PEEP did not restore values of C and lung aeration to their unloaded values. In AHRF with mass loading, geometrical constraints may limit PEEP efficacy even when optimally titrated.
Obesity Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure Mechanical Ventilation

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