We hypothesize that the ventilatory mode Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure without any synchronization (BIPAPasynchro) may facilitate the weaning process of patients intubated with acute hypoxiemic respiratory failure (AHRF) by obviating the problem of patient-ventilator asynchrony. In order to prove this hypothesis a large randomized controlled study should be perfromed comparing BIPAPasynchro versus pressure support ventilation (PSV), the most widely used ventilatory mode during the weaning process. In order to do so, a feasibility trial to demonstrate the ICU personnel can effectively use a non-standard ventilatory mode should be first performed. The objective of our study is, thus, to demonstrate the feasibility of using BIPAasynchro in the Lausanne Adult ICU.
Intubated ICU patient with acute respiratory failure;
PaO2-FiO2 ratio of less than 300 mmHg (40 kPa) at least one hour after intubation;
control or assist-control ventilation;
expected duration of mechanical ventilation of more than 24 hours;
less than 18 years old;
pregnant women (because of very different respiratory mechanics);
severe obesity (BMI > 40 kg/m2);
known obstructive pulmonary disease;