Comparison of Respiratory Mechanics and Gas Exchange between Pressure-controlled and Volume-controlled Ventilation

Jung, Seong Han; Choi, Won Jun; Lee, Jung A; Kim, Jin A; Lee, Mun Woo; Shin, Hyoung Shik; Kim, Mi Kyeong; Choe, Kang Hyeon

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) is frequently used recently as the initial mode of mechanical ventilation in the patients with respiratory failure. Theoretically, because of its high initial inspiratory flow, pressure-controlled ventilation has lower peak inspiratory pressure and improved gas exchange than volume-controlled ventilation (VCV). But the data from previous studies showed controversial results about the gas exchange. Moreover, the comparison study between PCV and VCV with various inspiration:expiration time ratios (I:E ratios) is rare. So this study was performed to compare the respiratory mechanics and gas exchange between PCV and VCV with various I:E raitos.
METHODS
Nine patients receiving mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure were enrolled. They were ventilated by both PCV and VCV with various I:E ratios (1:2, 1:1.3 and 1.7:1). FiO2, tidal volume, respiratory rate and external positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) were kept constant throughout the study. After 20 minutes of each ventilation mode, arterial blood gas, airway pressures, expired CO2 were measured.
RESULTS
In both PCV and VCV, as the I:E ratio increased, the mean airway pressure was increased, and PaCO2 and physiologic dead space fraction were decreased. But P(A-a)O2 was not changed. In all three different I:E ratios, peak inspiratory pressure was lower during PCV, and mean airway pressure was higher during PCV. But PaCO2 level, physiologic dead space fraction and P(A-a)O2 were not different between PCV and VCV with three different I:E ratios.
CONCLUSION
There was no difference in gas exchange between PCV and VCV under the same tidal voulme, frequency and I:E ratio.