Effects of positive end-expiratory pressure on brain tissue oxygen pressure of severe traumatic brain injury patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: A pilot study.

Purpose: To verify whether high positive end-expiratory pressure levels can increase brain tissue oxygen pressure, and also their effects on pulse oxygen saturation, intracranial pressure, and cerebral perfusion pressure.

Material And Methods: Twenty traumatic brain injury patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome were submitted to positive end-expiratory pressure levels of 5, 10, and 15 cm H2O progressively. The 3 positive end-expiratory pressure levels were used during 20 minutes for each one, whereas brain tissue oxygen pressure, oxygen saturation, intracranial pressure, and cerebral perfusion pressure were recorded.