A novel method for assessment of airway opening pressure without the need for low-flow insufflation

BACKGROUND: Airway opening pressure (AOP) detection and measurement are essential for assessing respiratory mechanics and adapting ventilation. We propose a novel approach for AOP assessment during volume assist control ventilation at a usual constant-flow rate of 60 L/min. OBJECTIVES: -defined on the airway pressure waveform as the difference between the airway pressure level at which an abrupt change in slope occurs at the beginning of insufflation and PEEP-to resistive pressure for AOP detection and measurement, and to compare its respiratory and hemodynamic tolerance to the standard low-flow insufflation method. METHODS: method was compared with the standard low-flow method. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: than during standard method (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: during constant-flow assist control ventilation may permit to easily and safely detect and measure AOP.