Lung transplantation (LTx) is an important treatment option for select patients with end-stage pulmonary disease. In the early period following LTx a protective ventilatory strategy should be applied to reduce both ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) and ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction (VIDD) after Lung Tranplantation (LTx). Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) is an assisted ventilation mode in which neural inspiratory activity is monitored through the continuous recording of electrical activity of the diaphragm (EAdi) and then used to coordinate the respiratory support delivered by the ventilator.~NAVA, because of its intrinsic properties (proportionality between respiratory drive and level of assist, prevention of diaphragm atrophy), could allow the aforementioned ventilatory strategy, however it may require the integrity of the pulmonary vagal afferent feedback in order to avoid volutrauma. So, the aim of the study is the evaluation of the physiological relationship between EAdi and tidal volume, driving pressure and mechanical power, at different levels of ventilatory assist, in the absence of pulmonary vagal afferent feedback, in early post-operative period after LTx.
Protective ventilatory strategy should be applied to reduce both ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) and ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction (VIDD) after Lung Transplantation (LTx). Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) is an assisted ventilation mode in which respiratory support is coordinated by the electrical activity of the diaphragm (EAdi). Aim of the study is to assess the physiological relationship between neural respiratory drive as assessed by EAdi and tidal volume, driving pressure and mechanical power, at different levels of ventilatory assist, in the absence of pulmonary vagal afferent feedback.