Recruitment maneuvers and positive end-expiratory pressure/tidal ventilation titration in acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome: translating experimental results to clinical practice

Carmen Sílvia Valente Barbas¹ , Gustavo Faissol de Mattos² and Eduardo da Rosa Borges³

¹Associate Professor, Pulmonary Division, University of São Paulo, Brazil, Medical staff of the ICU of Albert Einstein Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil

²Research Fellow, Pulmonary Division, University of São Paulo, Brazil and Medical staff and Hemodynamic group coordinator of the ICU of Albert Einstein Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil

³Research Fellow, Pulmonary Division, University of São Paulo, Brazil and Medical staff of ICU of Sirio-Libanes Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil

author email corresponding author email

Critical Care 2005, 9:424-426doi:10.1186/cc3800


Published:	18 August 2005

See related research article http://ccforum.com/content/9/5/R471

Abstract

Recruitment maneuvers and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)/tidal ventilation titration in acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) are the cornerstone of mechanical ventilatory support. The net result of these possible adjustments in ventilatory parameters is the interaction of the pressure applied in the respiratory system (airway pressure/end expiratory pressure) counterbalanced by chest wall configuration/abdominal pressure along the mechanical ventilatory support duration. Refinements in the ventilatory adjustments in ALI/ARDS are necessary for minimizing the biotrauma in this still life-threatening clinical problem.