Servo Targeting Schemes

Ventilator modes that use Servo targeting schemes are very responsive and provide the most comfort and synchrony in the spontaneous breathing patient. Servo targeting is "a control system for which the output of the ventilator automatically follows a varying input. This means that the inspiratory pressure is proportional to inspiratory effort" (Chatburn, R.). 

The below videos give a brief description of Servo targeting schemes and ventilator modes that use Servo targeting schemes. 

NAVA vs. Pressure Support in Pediatric Patients

Pressure Support Ventilation can be  associated with 8 types of patient ventilator asynchronies. 

Overview

The researchers sought to determine if neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) enhances asynchrony, ventilatory drive, breath-to-breath variability and COMFORT score when compared to pressure support (PS).  Twelve pediatric patients with asynchrony (auto-triggering, double triggering or non-triggered breaths) were enrolled in a non-randomized short-term cross-over trial.  Four sequential 10-min periods of data were recorded after 20 min of ventilatory stabilization (wash-out) at pre-determined settings.

Results

The median asynchrony index was notably lower during NAVA than during 2-PS(opt) and 4-PS(opt). In NAVA mode, the NAVA trigger accounted for approximately 66% of triggered breaths. The median trigger delay with respect to neural inspiratory time was considerably lower during NAVA than during 2-PS(opt) and 4-PS(opt). The median electrical activity of the diaphragm (EAdi) change during trigger delay normalized to maximum inspiratory. EAdi difference was notably lower during NAVA than during 2-PS(opt) and 4-PS(opt).  Additionally, NAVA produced a significantly higher coefficient of variation of tidal volume than 2-PS(opt) and 4-PS(opt). The median comfort score during NAVA was lower than that during 2-PS(opt) and 4-PS(opt).

Conclusion

This research shows that NAVA results in improved synchrony, reduced ventilatory drive, increased breath-to-breath mechanical variability and improved patient comfort compared to optimized PS.

Reference

De le Olivia, P., Schuffelmann, C., Gomez-Zamora, A., & Kacmarek, R. M., (2012). Asynchrony, neural drive, ventilatory variability and COMFORT: NAVA versus pressure support in pediatric patients. A non-randomized cross-over trial. Intensive Care Medicine, 38(5), 838-846.

ECLS for Patient Ventilator Synchrony?

Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Life Support. Image from MAQUET 

Introduction

Promoting patient  safety and comfort are two main goals when utilizing mechanical ventilation. In patients with severe lung failure maintaining both lung protective goals and patient comfort is a difficult task. One can provide safety by minimizing the set tidal volume to 4-6 ml/kg/IDBW however this leads to flow asynchronies in the patient who has a high inspiratory drive. One can utilize pressure control ventilation to prevent these flow asynchronies conversely this most likely results in tidal volumes greater than lung protective goals. In these patients it is very difficult to balance these two goals of mechanical ventilation and patient comfort is usually sacrificed, or is  accomplished with high levels of sedation and sometimes neuromuscluar blocking agents. 

Increasing sedation and administering neuromuscular blocking agents increases the risk for ventilator induced diaphragmatic dysfunction (VIDD), increased length of stay, and mortality. So it would be ideal to allow for both lung protection and patient comfort (ventilator synchrony) with minimal sedation use.

In the below summarized abstract [1] researchers couple Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Life Support (ECLS) with Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory (NAVA) Assist to balance lung protection and patient comfort with little sedation use. 

The Importance of Identifying Patient Ventilator Asynchrony

There are many factors that increase the risks for prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV). So It is imperative that the practitioner is able to identify factors that they can proactively emend.

One factor associated with PMV is inappropriate ventilator settings. The below abstract reinforces how ventilator asynchrony increases the likelihood of  PMV. 

Quantifying Patient Ventilator Asynchrony

SERVO-i Ventilator screen. Using NAVA monitoring & captured screen shots to quantify patient ventilator asynchrony.

Patient ventilator asynchrony is present in the majority of ventilated patients [1].

One of the most difficult components of patient ventilator assessment is actually recognizing asynchrony. Authors of the following study “Efficacy of ventilator waveforms observation in detecting patient–ventilator asynchrony” ‘[2] demonstrate how challenging identifying asynchrony is, even for the seasoned physician.

Ten Reasons to Trade in the Babylog 8000

Image 1 : Front view of the Babylog 8000 neonatal ventilator.

The Babylog 8000™ (Draeger Medical, Telford, PA) is a neonatal specific ventilator that has been in use for over twenty years. At inception the Babylog was a unique platform providing high-tech applications in regards to breath delivery. This advance technology surpassed the available devices and provided a foundation for present day neonatal ventilators. Even with the success of this ventilator platform there are reasons one may consider trading in their machines.

The rationale for replacing the Babylog is related to technological advances, the lack of upgrade availability, and safety concerns.