Is high levels of PEEP more beneficial compared to the low levels of PEEP/
Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is the positive airway pressure at the end of expiration or exhalation that is necessary to prevent the alveoli from collapsing. The PEEP works opposite to the expiration to prevent total lung collapse and is always more than the atmospheric pressure. Many studies compared the use of high and low levels of PEEP and following results were obtained: Higher level of PEEP was proved to be more beneficial as it resulted in improvement in patients with Acute respiratory distress syndrome with improved mortality and improved oxygenation in some studies. While other studies were not able to produce convincing results. In one study by Gattinoni et al. and Grasso et al. high levels of PEEP were found to be dangerous in patients with decreased lung recruitability and positive results were obtained in only half of the patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. In another study by Briel et al no improvement in the mortality was seen in patients given high levels of PEEP. At this point it would be uncertain to say that high PEEP levels are beneficial because of the heterogeneity of the findings.
