Auto-PEEP-like condition recognized by a sudden decrease in airway pressure during pressure controlled ventilation and low-flow anesthesia: A case report

ABSTRACT

During mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit, auto-positive end-expiratory pressure (auto-PEEP) has been reported to occur in obstructive airway conditions aggravated by inappropriate ventilator settings. In this paper, we report a case of auto-PEEP-like problem during anesthesia, mainly caused by excessive sputum. After being positioned prone for spine surgery, the patient received pressure controlled ventilation at a low fresh gas flow rate. One hour after the start of surgery, sudden decreases in pressure and flow occurred. The typical maneuvers which could be performed by the anesthesiologists in the situations suggesting leakage within the breathing circuit consist of pressing the oxygen flush valve and manual hyperventilation for the initial evaluation. But from our experience in this case, we have learned that such maneuvers could cause unacceptable aggravation in the event of auto-PEEP. Also in this report, we discuss the difficulties in prediction based on the present knowledge of preoperative evaluation and the presumably best management policy regarding this type of auto-PEEP.