Nocturnal Pressure Controlled Ventilation Improves Sleep Efficiency in Patients Receiving Mechanical Ventilation

BACKGROUND:

Patients receiving mechanical ventilation commonly experience sleep fragmentation. The present meta-analysis compared the effects of pressure controlled ventilation (PCV) and pressure support ventilation (PSV) on sleep quality.

METHODS:

We conducted a search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for studies published before November 2023. In this meta-analysis, individual effect sizes were standardized, and the pooled effect size was determined by using random-effects models. The primary outcome was sleep efficiency. The secondary outcomes were wakefulness, percentages of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and stages 3 and 4 non–REM sleep, the fragmentation index, and the incidence of apneic events.

RESULTS:

This meta-analysis examined 4 trials that involved 67 subjects. Sleep efficiency was significantly higher in the PCV group than in the PSV group (mean difference 15.57%, 95% CI 8.54%–22.59%). Wakefulness was significantly lower in the PCV group than in the PSV group (mean difference −18.67%, 95% CI −30.29% to −7.04%). The percentage of REM sleep was significantly higher in the PCV group than in the PSV group (mean difference 2.32%, 95% CI 0.20%–4.45%). Among the subjects with a tendency to develop sleep apnea, the fragmentation index was significantly lower in those receiving PCV than PSV (mean difference −40.00%, 95% CI −51.12% to −28.88%). The incidence of apneic events was significantly lower in the PCV group than in the PSV group (risk ratio 0.06, 95% CI 0.01–0.45).

CONCLUSIONS:

Compared with PSV, PCV may improve sleep quality in patients receiving nocturnal mechanical ventilation.