APRV
Definition
Airway Pressure Release Ventilation (APRV) introduced by Stock and Downs in 1987.
Applies CPAP (P high) for a prolonged time (T high) to maintain adequate lung volume and alveolar recruitment with a time cycled release to a lower pressure (P low) for a shorter period of time (T low). This release phase is where most of the CO2 removal occurs. The patient can spontaneously breathe at P high due to an open exhalation valve during T high.
Time triggered, pressure limited, time cycled
In theory, should facilitate recruitment, increase mean airway pressure while limiting peak pressures, avoid repeated alveolar collapse/atelectotrauma, allow spontaneous respiration (and thereby reduce sedation and need for neuromuscular blockade)
Primary Indications
ARDS with low lung compliance
Diffuse pneumonia
Potentially tracheo-esophageal fistula
Relative Contraindications
Elevated Intracranial Pressure
Large bronchopleural fistula
Possibly significant obstructive lung disease
Parameters
Initial Settings
1) P high at the P plateau (or desired . P mean + 3cm H2O). Try to keep P high below 30-35 cm H2O
2) T high at 4-6 seconds
3) P low at 0 (to optimize expiratory flow)
4) T low at 0.5 to 0.8 seconds: Adjust the T low to cut off the expiratory flow during a release at about 50% of peak expiratory flow (see figure below). Do not allow the termination of expiratory flow to go <25% of the peak expiratory flow rate. This intrinsic PEEP allows P low to be set at 0 without causing derecruitment. T low can be as low as 0.3 seconds (closer to 75% peak expiratory flow rate) in restrictive lung disease and as high as 1.5 seconds (closer to 25% peak expiratory flow rate) in obstructive diseases.
5) ATC (automatic tube compensation) or PS for spontaneous breaths
Titration
Hypercarbia:
Delta P (P high- P low) determines flow out of the lungs and volume exchange. Hence:
1) Decrease T high in 0.5 second increments. Shorter T high means more releases/min. (should generally not decrease to <4seconds)
2) Increase P high to increase delta P and volume exchange by increments of 2-3 cm H2O. Monitor Vt and P high
3) Check T low. If possible, increase T low to allow more time for alveolar emptying while keeping expiratory flow greater than 25% of peak expiratory flow rate.
Hypocarbia:
1) Increase T high (fewer releases) in increments of 0.5 seconds
2) Decrease P high to lower delta P (monitor oxygenation and avoid derecruitment)
Hypoxia:
1) Increase P high in increments of 2 cm H20 to improve mean airway pressure
2) Decrease T low to be closer to 75% peak expiratory flow rate
Weaning:
When FiO2 is below 50%, recruitment maximized, and patient is breathing spontaneously, continuous gradual wean can begin by:
1) Decrease P high by 1-2 cm H2O AND increasing T high by 0.5 seconds for every 1 cm H20 drop in p high (drop and stretch)
2) Drop and stretch every 2 hours as tolerated. P mean gradually lowered so will need to monitor SpO2.
3) When P high reaches 10 cm H20 and T high reaches 12-15 seconds, change the mode to CPAP with PEEP at 10 and PS at 5-10 (ATC off).
Evidence
RCT of 52 pediatric patients with pediatric ARDS (stopped early due to harm in the APRV/intervention group) showed increased mortality (multivariable adjusted RR of 2.02 , p=0.05) in the APRV group compared to conventional ventilation. (Ganesan et al, AJRCCM 2018)
A trial of APRV in 138 adult patients with ARDS found (Zhou et al, ICM 2017)higher median number of ventilator free days (19 vs 2) as well as shorter ICU stay and a trend toward improved mortality rates.
The tidal volumes delivered on APRV can be unpredictable, with a study by Hirshberg et al looking at tidal volumes with VC, APRV with a low tidal volume protocol, and standard APRV and showing that average daily tidal volumes were >12 cc/kg 17% of the time in the low VT APRV group and 35% of the time in the standard APRV group. The following figure depicts this wide variability in tidal volume for APRV, which given the relationship between Vt and mortality in ARDS, raises further concerns about the use of APRV in ARDS
From Ganesan et al (AJRCCM 2018)