Extracorporeal Carbon Dioxide Removal Using PrismaLung in Reducing Ventilator Induced Lung Injury

Lung protective ventilation with low tidal volumes and low driving pressure are known to reduce mortality in mechanically ventilated patients with acute respiratory failure. This reduction in mortality is known be due to reduction of ventilator induced lung injury that occurs due to high tidal volumes and high driving pressure. When receiving such mechanical ventilation, some patients develop hypercapnia and associated hypercapnic acidosis. Such patients have an increased risk of mortality. While the exact reasons for such increase in mortality is not known, it is recommended to minimise hypercapnia and hypercapnic acidosis during lung protective ventilation. Minimally invasive extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO2R) devices are shown to reduce hypercapnia and hypercapnic acidosis. There are several devices that are currently available in the current clinical practice. However, the effect of these devices on reduction in ventilator induced lung injury is not clearly demonstrated. This study aims to assess the use of an ECCO2R device called Prismalung in reducing ventilator induced lung injury. PrismaLung is currently used in our intensive care unit. This assessment is done by measuring interleukins in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and blood interleukin levels as well as clinical assessment including the reduction of driving pressure.