Lung Protective Ventilation in Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy (PTE) Patients

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is caused by unresolved thromboemboli in the pulmonary arteries, which lead to pulmonary hypertension and, left untreated, right heart failure. This disease can be potentially cured by performing a pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) to remove the blood clots. The surgery is not without risk and the most worrisome complication is the development of a form of acute lung injury called reperfusion lung injury, which occurs in about 40 percent of patients.

The landmark publication of the ARDSNET study demonstrated that a low tidal volume strategy of mechanical ventilation, decreased morbidity and mortality in patients who had acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Since then there have been some studies examining the role of a low tidal volume strategy in all patients who are mechanically ventilated. Some studies have demonstrated a decreased incidence of acute lung injury while others have failed to do the same. In patients at high risk for developing acute lung injury, such as patients undergoing PTE, there may be a benefit to using low tidal volumes to reduce the incidence of reperfusion lung injury.

To assess the efficacy of a low tidal volume ventilation strategy in patients undergoing PTE, 134 patients will be randomized at the time of surgery to either low tidal volumes (6ml/kg of ideal body weight), or standard tidal volumes (10ml/kg of ideal body weight). Patients will be followed clinically to assess for the development of reperfusion lung injury. This will be defined as the development of hypoxemia (PaO2/FiO2 ratio less than 300) and chest infiltrates in the area of reperfused lung with no other identifiable etiology within the first 72 hours of surgery. Patients will also be assessed for other factors known to contribute to acute lung injury including: plateau pressures, peak inspiratory pressures, fluid balance, and number of transfusions received. Secondary endpoints of the study will be: time to successful spontaneous breathing trial, ventilator free days, ICU free days, hospital free days, and mortality.