Optimum End-Expiratory Airway Pressure in Patients with Acute Pulmonary Failure

Abstract

To determine whether in the management of pulmonary failure, the maximum compliance produced by positive end-expiratory pressure coincides with optimum lung function, 15 normovolemic patients requiring mechanical ventilation for acute pulmonary failure were studied. The end-expiratory pressure resulting in maximum oxygen transport (cardiac output times arterial oxygen content) and the lowest dead-space fraction both resulted in the greatest total static compliance. This end-expiratory pressure varied between 0 and 15 cm of water and correlated inversely with functional residual capacity at zero end-expiratory pressure (r = -0.72, p < 0.005). Mixed venous oxygen tension increased between zero end-expiratory pressure and the end-expiratory pressure resulting in maximum oxygen transport, but then decreased at higher end-expiratory pressures.