Use of Hypothermia to allow Low-Tidal-Volume ventilation in a patient with ARDS

Abstract

Low-tidal-volume ventilation reduces mortality in patients with ARDS, but there are often challenges in implementing lung-protective ventilation, such as acidosis from hypercapnia. In a patient with severe ARDS we achieved adequate ventilation with a very low tidal volume (4 mL/kg ideal body weight) by inducing mild hypothermia (body temperature 35-36°C). © 2011 Daedalus Enterprises.