Compliance and dynamic characteristics curves in acute respiratory failure.

Routine measurement of pressure-volume curves of the lungs and thorax in seven patients treated with continuous mechanical ventilation provided supportive evidence for the presence or absence of cardiogenic pulmonary edema, noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, pneumonia, bronchospasm, mucous plugging, intubation of mainstem bronchus, atelectasis, and results of subsequent therapy. Those conditions associated with predominantly airway disease altered dynamic more than static pressure-volume measurements. Those conditions associated with parenchymal lung disease or loss of lung volume generally altered both dynamic and static pressure-volume measurements. The effectiveness of treatment of these diseases could be monitored by their effect on the pressure-volume curve. The determination of pressure-volume measurements are simple, noninvasive, and can be accomplished within minutes. The routine use of these measurements should be one of the monitoring procedures performed in patients treated with mechanical ventilation.