Comparison Of Vibration Response Imaging Between Maintenance Volume Control Ventilation And Low Level Pressure Support Ventilation.

Purpose Vibration response imaging (VRI™) is a new non-invasive technology that utilizes sophisticated software and surface skin sensors to record, analyze and display vibrations created from respiration. Hypothesis Lower lung vibration as a surrogate of airflow will be increased when patients who are being weaned are switched from assist volume control to low-level pressure support ventilation. Method The procedure of the VRI™ technology was performed on 34 mechanically ventilated, hemodynamically stable patients on volume control ventilation and then on low level of pressure support during a weaning trial. Based on predetermined criteria, respiratory cycles absent of artifact were chosen and the maximal inspiration image was used for analysis. Maximal vibration energy during inspiration was measured. Statistic analysis was done using T-test. Results Compared to patients in volume control mode, patients in early spontaneous breathing trial with pressure support level of 5 cmH2O despite a lower tidal volume have significant increase (59500.935 ± 7736.31 vs. 61815.96 ± 6974.49, p<0.05) in the geographic area of the VRI™ technology. When each patient was used as their own control, there was also a significant percent increase of vibration energy distribution to