Automated monitoring of respiratory mechanics in mechanically ventilated children

Respiratory mechanics monitoring is useful in mechanically ventilated children to optimize the ventilator settings and to understand the pathophysiology of the underlying disease. In neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, ventilators provide some information to the physician such as respiratory rate, minute expiratory volume, peak airway pressure, and positive end-expiratory pressure. Usually, more information is needed to understand the patient-ventilator relationship. Several methods have been described for pulmonary mechanics measurements but some of them are invasive or need disconnection from the ventilator. The aim of this study was to design an automated non invasive monitoring system that could be routinely used at the bedside in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units. This system is based on the continuous recording of flow, pressure, and volume at the airway opening. It is able to calculate commonly used ventilatory parameters for each respiratory cycle, and respiratory mechanics parameters such as inspiratory and expiratory resistance (RI, RE), compliance (Crs), and intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEPi)