Objective: To evaluate the treatment value of lung recruitment (LR) maneuver on oxygenation and hemodynamics in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients after open endotracheal suctioning (ETS).
Methods: Twenty ARDS/acute lung injury (ALI) patients requiring mechanical ventilation support were randomized into two groups after stabilizing for 30 minutes. Group 1: LRs were performed immediately after ETS (ETS+LR), and then ETS was repeated after 60 minutes without LR. Group 2: the first ETS was performed without LR (ETS-LR), and the second ETS was combined with LR after 60 minutes. Partial pressure of oxygen in artery (PaO(2)), central venous pressure (CVP), heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were serially measured during the procedure.
Results: The hemodynamic parameters were stable in all patients, and no arrhythmia occurred. PaO(2) decreased significantly after ETS, but recovered rapidly in 5 and 15 minutes after LR (both P<0.05).
Conclusion: LR is effective in rapidly counteracting the deterioration in PaO(2) caused by open ETS in ARDS/ALI patients without interfering the hemodynamics.