Electrical impedance tomography monitoring in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients with mechanical ventilation during prolonged positive end-expiratory pressure adjustments.

Background/purpose: The time required to reach oxygenation equilibrium after positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) adjustments in mechanically ventilated patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is unclear. We used electrical impedance tomography to elucidate gas distribution and factors related to oxygenation status following PEEP in patients with ARDS.

Methods: Nineteen mechanically ventilated ARDS patients were placed on baseline PEEP (PEEPB) for 1 hour, PEEPB - 4 cmH2O PEEP (PEEPL) for 30 minutes, and PEEPB + 4 cmH2O PEEP (PEEPH) for 1 hour.