Comparison of Bronchospasm Diagnosis Based on Clinical Examination with Calculation of Airway Resistance Based on Ventilator Data in Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Unit

Mechanical ventilation is the most basic supportive care in patients admitted to the intensive care units. Some factors such as increase in airway resistance due to bronchospasm, may affect ventilation, that measured by different methods. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnosis of bronchospasm based on the calculation of airway resistance using ventilator data and clinical examination in patients admitted to the intensive care unit.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 180 patients, who admitted in the intensive care units of Ahvaz teaching hospitals and undervent mechanical ventilation. Patients were included in the study according to the inclusion criteria and were evaluated daily in terms of increasing airway resistance in two ways: clinical examination (presence of wheezing or Ronchi) and ventilator data (calculation of airway resistance). Data was recorded in a researcher-made checklist.

Among 180 patients enrolled in the study, the mean age was 57.77±18.95 years. There was a significant relationship between diabetes, asthma, hypertension and hyperlipidemia with an increase in airway resistance (P<0.05). Airway resistance was higher in women than men (P=0.004). There was a statistically significant difference between airway resistance detection through clinical examination and airway resistance detection based on ventilator data (p <0.001).

The results showed that detecting increased airway resistance through ventilator data was more sensitive than physical examination, So the use of it, in patient management is recommended.