Background The pressure dependent recruitment model (PRM) is a comprehensive mathematical description of pulmonary mechanics in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, previous investigations of the PRM implied that the number of model parameters may cause inaccurate parameter estimation. Methods PRM models were evaluated for 12 ARDS patients that underwent a low-flow recruitment manoeuvre. The identified parameter set formed the basis of a parameter reduction investigation of the PRM. The parameter reduction investigation measured the mean cohort residual error (ψ) yielded by each possible combination of identified parameter set with the non-identified parameter values set to a priori population constants. Results Reducing the five variable PRM to a particular three variable model configuration produced a limited increase in model fit to data residuals (ψ 5 =22.68, ψ 3 =29.21mbar). The reduced model evaluates airway-resistance, compliance and distension as model variables and uses population values for alveoli opening pressure and the ratio of open alveoli at end expiratory. Conclusions The reduced PRM model captures all major pressure–volume response features in the ARDS patients. Reduced parameterisation allows more robust parameter identification and thus more reliable parameter estimates that may prove more useful in a clinical setting. 
Reformulation of the pressure-dependent recruitment model (PRM) of respiratory mechanics