PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Jeffrey S Sager
AU  - Glenn Eiger
AU  - Barry D Fuchs
TI  - Ventilator Auto-Triggering in a Patient with Tuberculous Bronchopleural Fistula
DP  - 2003 May 01
TA  - Respiratory Care
PG  - 519--521
VI  - 48
IP  - 5
4099  - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/48/5/519.short
4100  - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/48/5/519.full
AB  - We report a case of ventilator auto-triggering resulting from tuberculous bronchopleural fistula being managed with chest tube suction. Early recognition of bronchopleural fistula-related auto-triggering is extremely important. Auto-triggering can lead to serious adverse effects, including severe hyperventilation and inappropriate escalation of sedatives and/or neuromuscular blockers (administered to reduce spontaneous breathing efforts). Auto-triggering was confirmed in our patient when tachypnea persisted despite pharmacologic neuromuscular paralysis. Auto-triggering can be reduced or eliminated by decreasing ventilator trigger sensitivity or by decreasing the air leak flow by reducing the degree of chest tube suction.