Spraider et al. Improved ventilation and lung recruitment in flow-controlled ventilation (FCV) compared to pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) – A prospective, randomized porcine study. Abstract presented at ESICM 2019 and AIC 2019.

In a randomized porcine study, Spraider and colleagues demonstrated that FCV significantly improved gas exchange and maintained better lung aeration during 10 hours of ventilation, as compared to pressure controlled ventilation (PCV). Ventilation settings for FCV were individually optimized through compliance-guided pressure settings, while PCV settings were chosen according to the standard of care for lung-protective ventilation. Results showed a significantly better oxygenation in the FCV group (+24%, P=0.0097) while requiring a 53% lower minute volume (P <0.0001) to achieve normocapnia. Furthermore, in pigs ventilated with FCV the fraction of non-aerated lung tissue including atelectatic areas was reduced by 27% (P=0.032), with use of lower PEEP and comparable driving pressure, indicating an improved lung recruitment.