Positive End-Expiratory Pressure may alter breathing cardiovascular variability and baroreflex gain in mechanically ventilated patients

Table 1 Characteristics of the patients and comparison between the two groups (unstable vs stable) at PEEP 10.

Parameters	All patients (n = 23)	Unstable group (n = 11)	Stable group (n = 12)	p (unstable vs stable group)
Age (years)	55 (49-61)	53 (49-60)	56 (49-61)	0.90
SAPS II	61 (49-75)	58 (46-61)	71 (53-79)	0.13
Duration of mechanical ventilation (days)	12 (7-15)	12.0 (6.5-21.8)	12.5 (9.5-15.0)	0.74
PaO₂/FiO₂	210 (150-293)	242 (154-375)	175 (150-266)	0.48
FiO₂ (%)	50 (40-60)	45 (36-59)	50 (40-70)	0.54
PaCO₂ (mmHg)	39 (37-45)	40 (37-44)	38 (36-46)	0.76
SOFA score	9.0 (6.3-11.8)	7.0 (5.3-10.0)	10.5 (7.5-14.5)	0.04
Vasoactive drugs dosage (μg.kg^-1.min^-1)	0.25 (0.00-0.35)	0.13 (0.00-0.25)	0.32 (0.22-0.78)	0.03

All results were reported as median (25-75 percentile) values. PaO₂/FiO₂, FiO₂, PaCO₂, SOFA score and vasoactive drugs dosage were collected at PEEP 10. SOFA score and vasoactive drugs dosage were significantly higher in the stable group.

ISSN: 1465-993X