Regional blood flows are affected differently by PEEP when the abdomen is open or closed: an experimental rabbit model.

Objective: The study of induced circulatory changes requires simultaneous assessment of multiple regional circulations because of interactions and compensatory mechanisms. Positive end expiratory pressure mechanical ventilation (PEEP) is known to cause marked, and potentially deleterious, cardiovascular changes. Our aim was to use a comprehensive approach to assess PEEP-induced circulatory changes in open vs closed abdomen animals.