Description

[Rational] Although mechanical ventilation (MV) is crucial for saving lives, the high incidence of ventilator-associated brain injury (VABI) in ICU patients, affecting up to 80% of cases, raises significant clinical concerns. VABI not only increases mortality and morbidity rates but also strains healthcare resources. Despite abundant evidence from preclinical studies, the precise impact of mechanical ventilation on humans remains largely unknown. Understanding these effects is crucial for uncovering the mechanisms behind VABI and subsequently preventing and treating this complication.

[Methods] Patients with drug-resistant epilepsy scheduled for stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG) exploration as part of their pre-surgical assessment will undergo eligibility screening. During the study, sEEG signals and respiratory data will be simultaneously collected from the hippocampus and other relevant limbic structures under various mechanical ventilation scenarios. These scenarios include controlled ventilation at different levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP, 5cmH2O vs. 10cmH2O) and respiratory rates (RR, 10 vs. 20 bpm), assisted ventilation, and natural breathing phases. Following the discontinuation of mechanical ventilation, patients will be monitored for up to 7 days to evaluate the occurrence of delirium. Additionally, simultaneous intracranial EEG recordings from relevant cortical and subcortical regions will be conducted.

[Aims] The current study aims to investigate the effects of mechanical ventilation, including variations in RR and PEEP, on neurophysiological electrical oscillations within the hippocampus, as well as the relationship between breathing patterns and hippocampal activity. Furthermore, the investigators will explore the impact of mechanical ventilation on other cortical areas involved in breathing, depending on electrode positioning, and examine the interactions between these brain regions and the hippocampus.