Abstract:OBJECTIVE: Airway occlusion pressure at 0.1 sec (P_ 0.1) has been widely used in the assessment of respiratory function. This study aimed to assess the values of P_ 0.1 and end-expiratory CO_2 (PetCO_2) in pediatric patients with mechanical ventilation. METHODS: A total of 29 mechanical-ventilation children, aged ranging from 8 months to 16 years(average of 4.3 years), with non-pulmonary respiratory failure admitted to the intensive care unit were included in this study. P_ 0.1 and PetCO_2 were monitored during mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: P_ 0.1 obtained on the day of weaning from the respirator increased significantly compared with that on the first day in the 0- 1 years old group (1.8±0.25 cmH_2O vs 0.23±0.17 cmH_2O),the 1- 3 years old group (2.0±0.27 cmH_2O vs 0.13±0.10 cmH_2O ) and the 3-16 years old group ( 2.1±0.28 cmH_2O vs 0.30±0.17 cmH_2O) (P< 0.001). PetCO_2 positively correlated with PaCO_2 (r= 0.894, P< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring the changes of P_ 0.1 and PetCO_2 is useful in adjusting the parameters of the respirator during mechanical ventilation. P_ 0.1 may serve as a marker for weaning from mechanical ventilation.
