Transpulmonary Pressure-Guided Mechanical Ventilation in Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in PICU: Single-Center Retrospective Study in North India, 2018-2021.

Objectives: In this study, we have reviewed the association between esophageal pressure-guided positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) setting and oxygenation and lung mechanics with a conventional mechanical ventilation (MV) strategy in patient with moderate to severe pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS).

Design: Retrospective cohort, 2018-2021.

Setting: Tertiary PICU.

Patients: Moderate to severe PARDS patients who required MV with PEEP of greater than or equal to 8 cm H2O.

Interventions: Esophageal pressure (i.e., transpulmonary pressure [PTP]) guided MV vs. not.

Measurements and main results: We identified 26 PARDS cases who were divided into those who had been managed with PTP-guided MV (PTP group) and those managed with conventional ventilation strategy (non-PTP). Oxygenation and lung mechanics were compared between groups at baseline (0 hr) and 24, 48, and 72 hours of MV. There were 13 patients in each group in the first 24 hours. At 48 and 72 hours, there were 11 in PTP group and 12 in non-PTP group. On comparing these groups, first, use of PTP monitoring was associated with higher median (interquartile range) mean airway pressure at 24 hours (18 hr [18-20 hr] vs. 15 hr [13-18 hr]; p = 0.01) and 48 hours (19 hr [17-19 hr] vs. 15 hr [13-17 hr]; p = 0.01). Second, use of PTP was associated with higher PEEP at 24, 48, and 72 hours (all p < 0.05). Third, use of PTP was associated with lower Fio2 and greater Pao2 to Fio2 ratio at 72 hours. Last, there were 18 of 26 survivors, and we failed to identify an association between use of PTP monitoring and survival.

Conclusions: In this cohort of moderate to severe PARDS cases undergoing MV with PEEP greater than or equal to 8 cm H2O, we have identified some favorable associations of oxygenation status when PTP-guided MV was used vs. not. Larger studies are required.