Functional Residual Capacity Guided Alveolar Recruitment Strategy in Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure After Cardiac Surgery

In ventilated patients with acute respiratory failure endotracheal suctioning may lead to alveolar derecruitment, which can be monitored by means of functional residual capacity (FRC) measurements. Regional distribution of ventilation can be followed at bedside using electrical impedance tomography. The investigators hypothesize that a FRC guided recruitment strategy, aimed at restoring a baseline FRC value after open endotracheal suctioning, improves oxygenation and regional distribution of ventilation. In addition the investigators research the impact of such a strategy on the inflammatory response to mechanical ventilation.