Comparison of Two Different Recruitment Manoeuvre Patterns in ARDS Patients

Authors: Davide Chiumello, Marialaura Montante, Pedro Wendel Garcia, Tapesh Bansal, Tommaso Pozzi, Silvia Coppola

This randomised crossover study compares two commonly used recruitment manoeuvres (RMs) in mechanically ventilated patients with ARDS: sigh recruitment and sustained inflation. Twenty-three patients underwent both techniques in random order, with a washout period in between. The study evaluated respiratory mechanics, gas exchange, hemodynamics, and lung volumes using electrical impedance tomography (EIT) over 30 minutes after each manoeuvre.

The results showed no clinically significant differences between the two RMs. Both sigh recruitment and sustained inflation produced minimal and transient effects, with respiratory mechanics, oxygenation, and lung volume distribution remaining largely unchanged from baseline. Only a small proportion of patients showed modest improvements in oxygenation. Overall, neither manoeuvre demonstrated meaningful benefit within the first 30 minutes after application.