A Simulated Single Ventilator / Dual Patient Ventilation Strategy for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jose A. Solis-Lemus; Edward Costar; Denis Doorly; Eric C. Kerrigan; Caroline H. Kennedy; Frances Tait; Steven A Niederer; Peter E. Vincent; Steven E. Williams

Figure 6. Using the modified splitter to adjust tidal volume in Patient 2 independent of tidal volume in Patient 1. (Panel A) In this experiment two patients with identical respiratory compliance (Lung Model C) are connected via the Modified Splitter to the ventilator. Target tidal volumes were either baseline (blue), -30% (red, C-C-model) or +30% (dotted yellow, C-C+ model). (Panel B) Pressuretime, Tidal Volume-time and Flow-time graphs. Ventilation was performed in pressure control mode with PIP 17 cmH2O, PEEP 5 cmH2O, RR 15 breaths/min, I:E ratio 1:2. Using these settings, a tidal volume of 493ml was achieved for both Patient 1 and Patient 2 (blue lines). The variable resistance in the inspiratory limb supplying Patient 2 was then increased, reducing Patient 2 tidal volume whilst Patient 1 tidal volume remained unchanged (red lines, C-C-model).