Multiple Cause ARDS Treated With Programmed Multi-Level Ventilation: A Case Report

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), is a common cause of respiratory failure in critically ill patients. Although advances in ARDS treatment are responsible for decrease in mortality, it still carries significant morbidity and treatment cost. We present a case of potential multiple causes of ARDS in a patient who was treated with a novel ventilation strategy of programmed multi-level ventilation (PMLV). Using such strategy, different compartments in ARDS may be recruited due to utilization of alternating multiple levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). Additionally, optimal ventilator frequency can be determined to achieve full exhalation as dictated by measured time constants.