Comparing the Intellivent-ASV® Mode with Conventional Ventilation Modes during Weaning after Uncomplicated Cardiac Surgery

The objective: to compare efficacy and safety of Intellivent-ASV® with conventional ventilation modes during weaning in the patients after cardiac surgery.Subjects and methods. In this randomized controlled trial, 40 adult patients were ventilated with conventional ventilation modes and 40 with Intellivent-ASV after uncomplicated cardiac surgery. Eight physicians were involved in the study.Care of both groups was standardized, except for the modes of postoperative ventilation.We compared:- The physician’s workload, through accounting number of manual ventilator settings and time they spent near the ventilator in every group,- Duration of tracheal intubation in ICU,- Evaluation of ventilation safety by considering driving pressure, mechanical power, positive end expiratory pressure, and tidal volume level,- The frequency of adverse events, postoperative complications, and lethality.Results. There were significant differences in the duration of respiratory support in ICU: 226 ± 31 min (Intellivent Group) vs 271 ± 78 min (Control Group) (p = 0.0013).In Intellivent Group, the number of manual ventilator settings and time spent by physicians near the ventilator before tracheal extubation were significantly lower: 0 vs 4 (2–6), and 35 (25–53) sec vs 164 ± 69 sec respectively (p < 0.001 in both cases).Intellivent-ASV provided significantly more protective ventilation through reduction in the driving pressure, tidal volume, FiO2 and PEEP levels but no difference was noted between paO2/FiO2 ratio. ∆P and Vt were significantly lower in Intellivent Group – ∆P on mechanical ventilation was 6 (5–7) cm H2O vs 7.25 (6.5–9.5) cm H2O (p < 0.001); Vt on mechanical ventilation was 6 (5.2–7) vs 7 (6–9.5) ml/kg/PBW (p = 0.000003). PEEP and FiO2 levels were also significantly lower in Intellivent Group, PEEP on mechanical ventilation was 5 (5–7.5) cm H2O vs 7 (5–11.5) cm H2O and FiO2 level was 26 (22–30) % vs 34 (30–40) %.There were no significant differences between the groups in frequency of adverse events and duration of ICU and hospital stay.Conclusion. Application of Intellivent-ASV mode after uncomplicated cardiac surgery provides more protective mechanical ventilation and reduces the physician’s workload without compromising the quality of respiratory support and safety of patients.