Weber et al. Flow-controlled ventilation improves gas exchange in lung-healthy patients – a randomised interventional cross-over study. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2019 Dec 12. doi: 10.1111/aas.13526. [Epub]

The workgroup of Prof. Schumann performed a crossover randomized controlled trial in lung-healthy patients comparing FCV to VCV. They revealed a higher efficiency of ventilation when using FCV, even after short-term application. With similar ventilation settings, FCV resulted in a 9% higher arterial oxygenation and 5% lower arterial CO₂ concentration (P<0.001). The mean tracheal pressure was higher during FCV (+10 %; P<0.001), with comparable tidal volumes, inspiratory plateau pressure and end-expiratory pressure. This study indicates that FCV shows potential benefits to allow lung protective ventilation.