Evaluation of the levels of auto-PEEP in the patients with acute respiratory failure required mechanical ventilation

ABSTRACT

We have studied 27 patients on medical ventilation in whom we measured auto-PEEP by means of end expiratory airway occlusion. Four patients with ARDS had 10.25  2.05 cm H2O of auto PEEP. Six patients with COPD had 12.83  4.98 cm H2O of auto PEEP. Seven patients with acute severe asthma had 20.29  7.21 cm H2O of auto PEEP. Ten patients with neuromuscular disease had 5.2  4.07 cm H2O of auto PEEP. PEEP was set equal to half the auto-PEEP to treat patients with ARDS, COPD and acute severe asthma. We have show that the value of auto PEEP fell to 4.67  3.7 cm H2O in patient with ARDS, to 7  2.31 in patient of COPD and to 9.71  1.67 in patients of asthma. PEEP 50% of auto-PEEP is safe and does not worsen pulmonary hyperinflation