Positive end-expiratory pressure limits inspiratory effort through modulation of the effort-to-drive ratio: an experimental crossover study.

Background: How assisted spontaneous breathing should be used during acute respiratory distress syndrome is questioned. Recent evidence suggests that high positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) may limit the risk of patient self-inflicted lung injury (P-SILI). The aim of this study was to assess the effects of PEEP on esophageal pressure swings, inspiratory drive, and the neuromuscular efficiency of ventilation. We hypothesized that high PEEP would reduce esophageal pressure swings, regardless of inspiratory drive changes, by modulating the effort-to-drive ratio (EDR). This was tested retrospectively in an experimental animal crossover study. Anesthetized pigs (n = 15) were subjected to mild to moderate lung injury and different PEEP levels were applied, changing PEEP from 0 to 15 cmH₂O and back to 0 cmH₂O in steps of 3 cmH₂O. Airway pressure, esophageal pressure (Pes), and electric activity of the diaphragm (Edi) were collected. The EDR was calculated as the tidal change in Pes divided by the tidal change in Edi. Statistical differences were tested using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results: Inspiratory esophageal pressure swings decreased from - 4.2 ± 3.1 cmH₂O to - 1.9 ± 1.5 cmH₂O (p < 0.01), and the mean EDR fell from - 1.12 ± 1.05 cmH₂O/µV to - 0.24 ± 0.20 (p < 0.01) as PEEP was increased from 0 to 15 cmH₂O. The EDR was significantly correlated to the PEEP level (r_s = 0.35, p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Higher PEEP limits inspiratory effort by modulating the EDR of the respiratory system. These findings indicate that PEEP may be used in titration of the spontaneous impact on ventilation and in P-SILI risk reduction, potentially facilitating safe assisted spontaneous breathing. Similarly, ventilation may be shifted from highly spontaneous to predominantly controlled ventilation using PEEP. These findings need to be confirmed in clinical settings.