A mathematical model approach quantifying patients' response to changes in mechanical ventilation: Evaluation in volume support

The models were shown to adequately describe data in all patients (χ2, p > 0.2) accounting for changes in V˙CO2, VD and inadequate respiratory muscle-response. F-ratio tests showed that this approach provides a significantly better (p < 0.001) description of measured data than: (a) a similar model omitting the degree of respiratory muscle-response; and (b) a model of constant alveolar ventilation. The approach may help predict patients' response to changes in ventilator support at the bedside.