Figure 1.

Mean airway pressure during the trial. After the induction of acute lung injury (ALI), a recruitment manoeuvre was performed in the PCV+R group by sustained inflation and stepwise increase of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) by 3 cm H₂O every 15 minutes. Recruitment was followed by stepwise reduction of PEEP according to target arterial oxygen tension. In the PCV group, level of PEEP remained at 5 cm H₂O. Median values of the groups are shown. PCV, pressure-controlled ventilation; PCV+R, pressure-controlled ventilation with recruitment manoeuvre.