Optimizing artificial respiration

Optimizing artificial respiration

Artificial respiration may damage the alveoli and the endothelium of the capillaries, depending on the strategy employed. The aim of protective artificial respiration strategies is to try to achieve a sufficient gas exchange (O₂ and CO₂) with a minimum of damage. However, the consequences of the different strategies for the extent of the damage and the effectiveness of the gas exchange are mostly unknown.

Only knowledge about the effect of mechanical, or rather fluid mechanical values, such as tensile-, compressive-, and shear stress on the alveoli-capillary cells, enables us to understand the pathophysiological reactions observed.
The basic question is: what influence does biomechanics have on the function of the alveoli-capillary cells and vice versa? In order to be able to reply to this question, the following have to be answered first:

What does the non-stationary flow in alveoli and capillaries look like?
How do the different artificial respiration strategies influence the morphometry and the flow in the alveoli and capillaries?
Which mechanical stresses exist in the alveoli-capillary area?
Which cellular reactions are induced by mechanical influences and how do these reactions affect the flow?

These questions will be clarified in close collaboration with a medical team by the formation of numerical and experimental flow models and intravital microscopic tests.
It is expected that the artificial respiration strategies will be identified that will minimize the mechanical stresses and pathophysiological reactions while optimizing the gas exchange.

Alveolar model experiment,
avi-movie (4.44 MB)

Alveolar model

Contact persons

Dr. Eng. Ulrich Kertzscher
Dipl.-Ing. Kerstin Schirrmann