However, secondary outcomes of VFD and days of mechanical ventilation were assessed as measures of pulmonary-specific outcomes.
The impact of nutrition on other secondary end-point i.e. ICU-acquired pneumonia occurrence, need for invasive mechanical ventilation were assessed using a Fine & Gray models.
The clinical use of such measurements and interchangeability with arterial blood gas measurements for weaning patients from postoperative mechanical ventilation were assessed.
The kinetics of each variable, from day 1 to day 6 of mechanical ventilation, was assessed with each variable's slopes (rate of biomarker change per day), highest level and maximum amplitude of variation (Δ max).
Exclusion criteria were: age < 18 years, tracheostomy, pregnancy, major trauma, barotrauma (presence of extra-alveolar air during mechanical ventilation as assessed by daily chest X ray) and hemodynamic instability (systolic blood pressure < 80 or > 160 mm Hg, heart rate < 50 bpm or > 130 bpm or changes in ± 20% from baseline).
Need for mechanical ventilation was assessed in both study groups.
ICU mortality, length of stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation were assessed as outcome parameters.
Discontinuation of mechanical ventilation was assessed with a trial of spontaneous breathing with a T-tube on a FiO2 of 50% for up to 60 to 120 minutes.
General patient data, reason for admission, SAPS-II score, length of ICU stay and length of mechanical ventilation were assessed as well.
Over the last decade, a number of studies have been reported, which have used heart lung interactions during mechanical ventilation to assess fluid responsiveness.
Other parameters from different monitoring devices (such as variation in arterial pressure during mechanical ventilation to assess preload dependency) could be integrated into this strategy.
