Determination of Minimal Pressure Support Level During Weaning from Pressure Support Ventilation

압력보조 환기법으로 기계호흡 이탈시 최소압력보조(Minimal Pressure Support) 수준의 결정

Background: Minimal pressure support(PSmin) is a level of pressure support which offset the imposed work of breathing(WOBimp) developed by endotracheal tube and ventilator circuits in pressure support ventilation While the lower applied level of pressure support compared to PSmin could induce respiratory muscle fatigue, the higher level than PSmin could keep respiratory muscle rest resulting in prolongation of weaning period during weaning from mechanical ventilation PSmin has been usually applied in the level of 5~10 cm$H_2O$, but the accurate level of PSmin is difficult to be determinated in individual cases. PSmin is known to be calculated by using the equation of "PSmin = peak inspiratory flow rate during spontaneus ventilation$\times$total ventilatory system resistance", but correlation of calculated PSmin and measured PSmin has not been known. The objects of this study were firstly to assess whether customarily applied pressure support level of 5~10 cm$H_2O$ would be appropriate to offset the imposed work of breathing among the patients under weaning process, and secondly to estimate the correlation between the measured PSmin and calculated PSmin. Method : 1) Measurement of PSmin : Intratracheal pressure changes were measured through Hi-Lo jet tracheal tube (8mm in diameter, Mallinckroft, USA) by using pulmonary monitor(CP-100 pulmonary monitor, Bicore, USA), and then pressure support level of mechanical ventilator were increased until WOBimp was reached to 0.01 J/L or less. Measured PSmin was defined as the lowest pressure to make WOBimp 0.01 J/L or less. 2) Calculation of PSmin : Peak airway pressure(Ppeak), plateau airway pressure(Pplat) and mean inspiratory flow rate of the subjects were measured on volume control mode of mechanical ventilation after sedation. Spontaneous peak inspiratory flow rates were measured on CPAP mode(O cm$H_2O$). Thereafter PSmin was calculated by using the equation "PSmin = peak inspiratory flow rate$\times$R, R = (Ppeak-Pplat)/mean inspiratory flow rate during volume control mode on mechanical ventilation". Results: Sixteen patients who were considered as the candidate for weaning from mechanical ventilation were included in the study. Mean age was 64(${\pm}14$) years, and the mean of total ventilation times was 9(${\pm}4$) days. All patients except one were males. The measured PSmin of the subjects ranged 4.0~12.5cm$H_2O$ in 14 patients. The mean level of PSmin was 7.6(${\pm}2.5\;cmH_2O$) in measured PSmin, 8.6 (${\pm}3.25\;cmH_2O$) in calculated PSmin Correlation between the measured PSmin and the calculated PSmin is significantly high(n=9, r=0.88, p=0.002). The calculated PSmin show a tendancy to be higher than the corresponding measured PSmin in 8 out of 9 subjects(p=0.09). The ratio of measured PSmin/calculated PSmin was 0.81(${\pm}0.05$). Conclusion: Minimal pressure support levels were different in individual cases in the range from 4 to 12.5 cm$H_2O$. Because the equation-driven calculated PSmin showed a good correlation with measured PSmin, the application of equation-driven PSmin would be then appropriate compared with conventional application of 5~10 cm$H_2O$ in patients under difficult weaning process with pressure support ventilation.

연구배경: 압력보조환기법은 기계호흡으로부터 이탈시 최근에 많이 이용되는 인공환기법으로 적절한 압력보조 수준이 이탈 과정에 중요하며 특히 최소압력보조 (minimal pressure support) 수준에서 환자의 환기 상태가 적절하면 치료자는 인공 호흡기로 부터 여탈 및 기관내 관을 발관할 수 있다. 그러나 부적절한 최소압력 보조 수준의 적용은 환기 이탈 기간의 장기화나 이탈 실패를 초래할 수 있다. 본 연구는 이탈기 환자들이 최소압력보조 치의 범위를 알아보고 또한 최대 흡기유량과 총환기계 저항의 곱으로 구한 최소압력보조치의 계산값과 환자의 기관내 관 끝에서 실측한 값 사이의 차이를 비교함으로써 유도식으로 계산된 최소압력 보조 값의 임상적 유용성을 예측하고자 하였다. 방 법: 기저 질환이 호전되어 기계호흡으로부터 이탈이 가능한 환자 16명을 대상으로 폐 감시기 (CP-100 pulmonary monitor, Bicore, USA)를 이용하여 부가된 호흡일을 구한 후 최소압력보조의 수준을 직접 측정하였고, 이들 중 9예에서는 또한 유도식 (peak inspiratory flow rate$\times$total ventilatory system resistance=minimal pressure support)을 이용하여 최소합력보조의 수준을 구하였다. 결 과: 대상환자 16명중 14명에서 측정한 최소압력보조의 실측치는 4~12.5 cm$H_2O$로써 환자에 따라 차이가 심하였다. 대상 환자 중 2명에서 각각 15, 21 cm$H_2O$로써 높게 측정되었으나 기관내 관을 발관 후 내강이 기도 분비물로 심한 폐쇄가 발견되었다. 실측치를 측정한 16명중 9명에서 유도식을 이용하여 최소압력 보조의 계산치를 구하였으며 실측치와 계산치의 비는 평균 0.81로 실측치 보다 높게 나타나는 경향을 보였으나 실측치와 계산치의 상관 계수는 0.88(p=0.002)로 통계학적으로 유의한 상관관계를 보였다. 결 론: 압력보조환기법에 의한 이탈 시도시 최소압력보조 수준의 결정은 유도식을 이용하여 계산된 값을 적용하는 것이 치료자가 임의적으로 일정한 값을 적용하는 것보다 더 나을 것으로 사료된다.