Positive end-expiratory pressure

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Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is the pressure in the lungs (alveolar pressure) above atmospheric pressure (the pressure outside of the body) that exists at the end of expiration. [1] The two types of PEEP are extrinsic PEEP (PEEP applied by a ventilator) and intrinsic PEEP (PEEP caused by an incomplete exhalation). Pressure that is applied or increased during an inspiration is termed pressure support.PEEP is a therapeutic parameter set in the ventilator (extrinsic PEEP), or a complication of mechanical ventilation with air trapping (auto-PEEP). [2]

Contents

Intrinsic (auto-) PEEP

Auto-PEEP is an incomplete expiration prior to the initiation of the next breath causes progressive air trapping (hyperinflation). This accumulation of air increases alveolar pressure at the end of expiration, which is referred to as auto-PEEP.

Auto-PEEP develops commonly in high minute ventilation (hyperventilation), expiratory flow limitation (obstructed airway) and expiratory resistance (narrow airway).

Once auto-PEEP is identified, steps should be taken to stop or reduce the pressure build-up. [3] When auto-PEEP persists despite management of its underlying cause, applied PEEP may be helpful if the patient has an expiratory flow limitation (obstruction). [4] [5]

Extrinsic (applied) PEEP

Applied PEEP is usually one of the first ventilator settings chosen when mechanical ventilation is initiated. It is set directly on the ventilator.

A small amount of applied PEEP (4 to 5 cmH2O) is used in most mechanically ventilated patients to mitigate end-expiratory alveolar collapse. [6] A higher level of applied PEEP (>5 cmH2O) is sometimes used to improve hypoxemia or reduce ventilator-associated lung injury in patients with acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or other types of hypoxemic respiratory failure. [7]

Complications and effects

Positive end-expiratory pressure can contribute to:

History

John Scott Inkster, an English anaesthetist and physician, is credited with discovering PEEP. [11] When his discovery was published in the proceedings of the World Congress of Anaesthesia in 1968, Inkster called it Residual Positive Pressure.

See also

Related Research Articles

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Dynamic hyperinflation is a phenomenon that occurs when a new breath begins before the lung has reached the static equilibrium volume. In simpler terms, this means that a new breath starts before the usual amount of air has been breathed out, leading to a build-up of air in the lungs, and causing breathing in and out to take place when the lung is nearly full.

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References

  1. ↑ "Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)". TheFreeDictionary.com . Citing: Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary. 2007.
  2. ↑ "UpToDate". www.uptodate.com. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  3. ↑ Caramez, MP; Borges, JB; Tucci, MR; Okamoto, VN; et al. (2005). "Paradoxical responses to positive end-expiratory pressure in patients with airway obstruction during controlled ventilation". Crit Care Med . 33 (7): 1519–28. doi:10.1097/01.CCM.0000168044.98844.30. PMC   2287196 . PMID   16003057.
  4. ↑ Smith, TC; Marini, JJ (1988). "Impact of PEEP on lung mechanics and work of breathing in severe airflow obstruction". J Appl Physiol . 65 (4): 1488–99. doi:10.1152/jappl.1988.65.4.1488. PMID   3053583.
  5. ↑ Kondili, E; Alexopoulou, C; Prinianakis, G; Xirouchaki, N; et al. (2004). "Pattern of lung emptying and expiratory resistance in mechanically ventilated patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease". Intensive Care Med . 30 (7): 1311–8. doi: 10.1007/s00134-004-2255-z . PMID   15054570.
  6. ↑ Manzano, F; Fernández-Mondéjar, E; Colmenero, M; Poyatos, ME; et al. (2008). "Positive-end expiratory pressure reduces incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in nonhypoxemic patients". Crit Care Med . 36 (8): 2225–31. doi:10.1097/CCM.0b013e31817b8a92. PMID   18664777.
  7. ↑ Smith, RA (1988). "Physiologic PEEP". Respir Care . 33: 620.
  8. ↑ Frost, EA (1977). "Effects of positive end-expiratory pressure on intracranial pressure and compliance in brain-injured patients". J Neurosurg . 47 (2): 195–200. doi:10.3171/jns.1977.47.2.0195. PMID   327031.
  9. ↑ Caricato, A; Conti, G; Della Corte, F; Mancino, A; et al. (March 2005). "Effects of PEEP on the intracranial system of patients with head injury and subarachnoid hemorrhage: The role of respiratory system compliance". The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery . 58 (3): 571–6. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.500.2886 . doi:10.1097/01.ta.0000152806.19198.db. PMID   15761353.
  10. ↑ Oliven, A; Taitelman, U; Zveibil, F; Bursztein, S (March 1980). "Effect of positive end-expiratory pressure on intrapulmonary shunt at different levels of fractional inspired oxygen". Thorax . 35 (3): 181–5. doi:10.1136/thx.35.3.181. PMC   471250 . PMID   6770485.
  11. ↑ Craft, Alan (December 13, 2011). "John Scott Inkster". BMJ (obituary). 343: D7517. doi:10.1136/bmj.d7517.
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