Better Distribution of Minute Ventilation and Lung Energy Load in Multi-frequency Ventilation in Neonatal Inhomogeneous Lungs: Mathematical Simulation

The lungs of preterm neonates can show pathologies characterized by inhomogeneity of their mechanical characteristics. That leads to major differences between time constants of each lung compartments. Currently, none of commonly used modes of mechanical lung ventilation is capable of dealing with various demands of different parts inhomogeneously damaged lungs. The aim of this study is to find out, using mathematical simulations, whether multi-frequency ventilation is better for ventilation of inhomogeneous lungs rather than mono-frequency ventilation. Minute ventilation and energy load of pulmonary parenchyma of each compartment of inhomogeneously damaged lungs was evaluated using mathematical simulations. The results prove a better distribution of ventilation using multi-frequency ventilation pattern with comparable energy load on inhomogeneous lungs compared to a protective high-frequency ventilation using frequency of 6 Hz and a lower energy load compared to a ventilation with frequency of 0.3 Hz.