Association between controlled mechanical ventilation and systemic inflammation in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: an observational cohort study

  • M. Consuelo Bachmann
  • , Martín Benites
  • , Vanessa Oviedo
  • , Niki Hamidi Vadeghani
  • , Dagoberto Soto
  • , Roque Basoalto
  • , Pablo Cruces
  • , Yorschua Jalil
  • , L. Felipe Damiani
  • , Guillermo Bugedo
  • , Alejandro Bruhn
  • , Jaime Retamal*
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: In patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, spontaneous breathing efforts may contribute to patient self-inflicted lung injury through increased ventilation inhomogeneity and systemic inflammation. Whether early transition to controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV) mitigates these effects remains uncertain. Methods: This observational, prospective cohort study included 40 ICU patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure who initially breathed spontaneously. Based on clinical decisions, patients were managed with either continued spontaneous breathing (SB group, n = 12) or transitioned to CMV (CMV group, n = 28). Arterial blood gases, hemodynamics, plasma cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8), and ventilation distribution via electrical impedance tomography (EIT) were recorded at baseline and after 24 h. In the CMV group, intermediate time points (T2, T6, T12) were also assessed after intubation. The trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03513809). Results: In the CMV group, respiratory rate and heart rate decreased significantly over time. IL-6 levels dropped markedly from 305 ± 938 pg/mL at baseline to 27 ± 58 pg/mL at 24 h (p = 0.0195), accompanied by a significant improvement in oxygenation (PaO₂/FiO₂ from 140 ± 51 to 199 ± 67, p = 0.0004). EIT data showed improved ventilation distribution with increased end-expiratory lung impedance, decreased global inhomogeneity, and a shift in the center of ventilation toward dorsal regions. In contrast, the SB group showed no significant changes over 24 h in gas exchange, systemic inflammation, or EIT-derived parameters. Conclusions: In patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure initially breathing spontaneously, transition to CMV was associated with reduced IL-6 levels and improved ventilatory homogeneity over 24 h. These exploratory findings indicate that connection to controlled mechanical ventilation was associated with reduced systemic inflammation, a relationship that warrants confirmation in larger prospective studies.

Original languageEnglish
Article number482
JournalCritical Care
Volume29
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.

Keywords

  • Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure
  • Cytokines
  • Electrical impedance tomography
  • Mechanical ventilation
  • Patient self-inflicted lung injury
  • Spontaneous breathing

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