Positive End-Expiratory Pressure Setting in Adults With Acute Lung Injury and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

OSITIVE END-EXPIRATORY PRESsure (PEEP) is an essential component of the management of acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). 1 PEEP improves hypoxemia and decreases intrapulmonary shunting, and these effects have been the basis for titrating PEEP in clinical practice. 24][5][6] Although the mechanisms of this protective effect are not fully elucidated, they may be mediated by PEEP-induced alveolar recruitment, which avoids cyclic air-See also pp 637, 691, and 693.