Figure 1.

Timeline of the study in minutes. The order of the two suctioning procedures α and β was randomized. The vertical lines above the timeline indicate blood gas samplings. ETS+LR, endotracheal suctioning followed by a lung recruitment manoeuvre; ETS-LR, endotracheal suctioning without a following lung recruitment manoeuvre; EELV, end-expiratory lung volume; LIP, lower inflection point; LR, lung recruitment manoeuvre; PEEP, positive end-expiratory pressure; PV, inspiratory pressure–volume curve.