Comparative evaluation of spontaneous breathing trial techniques for ventilator weaning: a bench study

Abstract Background Spontaneous breathing trials (SBT) are crucial for determining when mechanically ventilated patients are ready for extubation. While pressure support (PS) and T-piece trials are commonly used, humidified high-flow (HHF) is increasingly considered, but its physiological effects re...

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Main Authors: Guillaume Fossat, Roberto Martínez Alejos, Emeline Fresnel, Mai-Anh Nay, Clément Medrinal, Marius Lebret
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-08-01
Series:Intensive Care Medicine Experimental
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40635-025-00788-y
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author Guillaume Fossat
Roberto Martínez Alejos
Emeline Fresnel
Mai-Anh Nay
Clément Medrinal
Marius Lebret
author_facet Guillaume Fossat
Roberto Martínez Alejos
Emeline Fresnel
Mai-Anh Nay
Clément Medrinal
Marius Lebret
author_sort Guillaume Fossat
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Spontaneous breathing trials (SBT) are crucial for determining when mechanically ventilated patients are ready for extubation. While pressure support (PS) and T-piece trials are commonly used, humidified high-flow (HHF) is increasingly considered, but its physiological effects remain unclear. This bench study compares T-piece, PS, and HHF modalities, evaluating their impact on work of breathing (WOB), tidal volume (Vt), total positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEPtot) and CO2 clearance. Methods A 3D-printed manikin head connected to an artificial lung was used. Four SBT modalities were tested: T-piece with and without supplemental oxygen, PS at 7 cmH2O (PEEP 0 cmH2O), and HHF at 50 L/min. The tests were performed under three lung conditions (normal, obstructive, restrictive) and two respiratory drive and effort settings (normal and intense), resulting in 24 scenarios. Measurements included WOB, CO2 clearance, PEEPtot, and Vt. Results T-piece and HHF50 SBTs exhibited similar effects on WOB, irrespective of the effort pattern associated with the underlying respiratory mechanics. For intense effort patterns, the CO2 concentration was lower with HHF than with PS, regardless of respiratory mechanics. The HHF50 SBT increased PEEPtot more than T-piece SBTs, but less than PS SBT, for all scenarios. HHF50 SBT generated lower tidal volume than T-piece and PS SBTs. Conclusions Humidified high-flow at 50 L/min, while preserving WOB and not increasing tidal volume, may offer specific advantages, such as improved CO2 clearance and PEEP effect, and could be considered as a trade-off for T-piece or PS SBTs.
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spelling doaj-art-a477e2929cfa4bb39385d02f35f7a1ae2025-08-20T04:01:42ZengSpringerOpenIntensive Care Medicine Experimental2197-425X2025-08-011311710.1186/s40635-025-00788-yComparative evaluation of spontaneous breathing trial techniques for ventilator weaning: a bench studyGuillaume Fossat0Roberto Martínez Alejos1Emeline Fresnel2Mai-Anh Nay3Clément Medrinal4Marius Lebret5Univ Rouen Normandie, GRHVN UR3830, Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB)Kernel BiomedicalKernel BiomedicalIntensive Care Unit Department, ORLEANS University HospitalUniv Rouen Normandie, GRHVN UR3830, Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB)Kernel BiomedicalAbstract Background Spontaneous breathing trials (SBT) are crucial for determining when mechanically ventilated patients are ready for extubation. While pressure support (PS) and T-piece trials are commonly used, humidified high-flow (HHF) is increasingly considered, but its physiological effects remain unclear. This bench study compares T-piece, PS, and HHF modalities, evaluating their impact on work of breathing (WOB), tidal volume (Vt), total positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEPtot) and CO2 clearance. Methods A 3D-printed manikin head connected to an artificial lung was used. Four SBT modalities were tested: T-piece with and without supplemental oxygen, PS at 7 cmH2O (PEEP 0 cmH2O), and HHF at 50 L/min. The tests were performed under three lung conditions (normal, obstructive, restrictive) and two respiratory drive and effort settings (normal and intense), resulting in 24 scenarios. Measurements included WOB, CO2 clearance, PEEPtot, and Vt. Results T-piece and HHF50 SBTs exhibited similar effects on WOB, irrespective of the effort pattern associated with the underlying respiratory mechanics. For intense effort patterns, the CO2 concentration was lower with HHF than with PS, regardless of respiratory mechanics. The HHF50 SBT increased PEEPtot more than T-piece SBTs, but less than PS SBT, for all scenarios. HHF50 SBT generated lower tidal volume than T-piece and PS SBTs. Conclusions Humidified high-flow at 50 L/min, while preserving WOB and not increasing tidal volume, may offer specific advantages, such as improved CO2 clearance and PEEP effect, and could be considered as a trade-off for T-piece or PS SBTs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40635-025-00788-ySpontaneous breathing trialHigh flowWeaningWork of breathingDead space washoutICU
spellingShingle Guillaume Fossat
Roberto Martínez Alejos
Emeline Fresnel
Mai-Anh Nay
Clément Medrinal
Marius Lebret
Comparative evaluation of spontaneous breathing trial techniques for ventilator weaning: a bench study
Intensive Care Medicine Experimental
Spontaneous breathing trial
High flow
Weaning
Work of breathing
Dead space washout
ICU
title Comparative evaluation of spontaneous breathing trial techniques for ventilator weaning: a bench study
title_full Comparative evaluation of spontaneous breathing trial techniques for ventilator weaning: a bench study
title_fullStr Comparative evaluation of spontaneous breathing trial techniques for ventilator weaning: a bench study
title_full_unstemmed Comparative evaluation of spontaneous breathing trial techniques for ventilator weaning: a bench study
title_short Comparative evaluation of spontaneous breathing trial techniques for ventilator weaning: a bench study
title_sort comparative evaluation of spontaneous breathing trial techniques for ventilator weaning a bench study
topic Spontaneous breathing trial
High flow
Weaning
Work of breathing
Dead space washout
ICU
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40635-025-00788-y
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