Respiratory physiology & neurobiology
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Respir Physiol Neurobiol · Dec 2016
Intratidal recruitment/derecruitment persists at low and moderate positive end-expiratory pressure in paediatric patients.
In paediatric patients positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is traditionally set lower than in adults. We investigated whether moderately higher PEEP improves respiratory mechanics and regional ventilation. Therefore, 40 children were mechanically ventilated with PEEP 2 and 5cmH2O. ⋯ A higher PEEP improved peripheral ventilation. In conclusion, mechanically ventilated paediatric patients undergo intratidal recruitment/derecruitment which occurs more prominently in younger than in older children. A PEEP of 5cmH2O does not fully prevent intratidal recruitment/derecruitment but homogenizes regional ventilation in comparison to 2cmH2O.