Assessment of Respiratory Drive and Inspiratory Effort Across Pressure Support Levels in Patients After Major Abdominal Surgery

This physiological observational study will assess respiratory drive and inspiratory effort across varying levels of pressure support ventilation (PSV) in adult surgical ICU (SICU) patients after major abdominal surgery. By using non-invasive bedside indices (airway occlusion pressure at 100 ms after the onset of inspiration \[P0.1\], maximum negative occlusion pressure \[Pocc\], and pressure muscle index \[PMI\]), we aim to quantify how patients adapt to changes in ventilatory support and determine patterns of under- and over-assistance. Findings may inform optimal titration of PSV to reduce complications and improve clinical outcomes.