Respiratory failure & ventilation
Inferior vena cava dynamics during triggered breaths under different levels of pressure support and positive-end expiratory pressure (PEEP): A randomized crossover physiologic study
Authors' conclusion
During PSV, inspiratory IVC collapse is common. The use of cIVC during patient-triggered breaths primarily reflects ventilator-patient interaction rather than preload alone and should be interpreted with caution.
Study context
- Population
- Critically ill patients undergoing weaning from mechanical ventilation
- Participants
- 60 ICU patients
- Comparison
- 12 pressure support ventilation (PSV) conditions combining different levels of pressure support (PS) and PEEP
- Primary endpoint
- IVC dynamics during triggered breaths (cIVC and dIVC by ultrasound)
Methodological detailsrandomized
- Randomized
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Inspiratory IVC behaviour
Inspiratory inferior vena cava (IVC) collapse, % of observations (particularly at lower PS/PEEP levels; distension predominated at higher settings)
85%
Further findings
Respiratory effort (P0.1) and cIVC
- Increase in cIVC per 1-cmH2O increase in P0.1 (approximately)
- 3.5%-point
- Proportion of PS–cIVC association mediated by P0.1
- 38.5% (95% CI 19.2 to 57.7)
- Mediation analysis
Original publication
Inferior vena cava dynamics during triggered breaths under different levels of pressure support and PEEP: A randomized crossover physiologic study. J Crit Care. Published 22 April 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →