HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hobelmann, C. F. Articles by Peters, R. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hobelmann, C. F., Jr Articles by Peters, R. M.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 24, 68-76, Copyright © 1977 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

ARTICLES

Mechanics of ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure

CF Hobelmann Jr, DE Smith, RW Virgilio and RM Peters

The effect of graded increments in positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) and shunt fraction (Qs/QT), oxygen delivery, and respiratory mechanics and work required to ventilate 8 critically ill patients is reported. The work required to ventilate the patients increases markedly with the application and progressive increase in the level of PEEP. However, improvement in lung mechanics lowers the net work of ventilating the lungs. At 20 cm H2O PEEP, the mean value for the work of ventilation in this group of patients is twice the mean value without PEEP. The increase in work of ventilation with PEEP is critical in the use of PEEP when patients are breathing spontaneously with or without intermittent mandatory ventilation.