Resp Care
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Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) may interfere with accurate assessment of cardiac function. PEEP may decrease left ventricular volume by lowering the transmural gradient between ventricular and pleural surface pressure (P(PL)) around the heart while raising the absolute pulmonary arterial occlusion pressure (PAOP). Clinical formulas used to predict the transmural PAOP (PAOP(TM)) require subtracting 25-50% of the PEEP level from the PAOP. However, both PAOP and P(PL) are influenced by transmitted PEEP and transmitted intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). We compared PAOP(TM) calculated by measuring intra-esophageal pressure (P(ES)) with PAOP(TM) estimated by clinical formulas. ⋯ PAOP(TM) calculated by P(ES) may reflect transmitted IAP to the pleural surface. Using P(ES) to calculate PAOP(TM) may provide a more accurate assessment of hemodynamic status than predicting PAOP(TM) using clinical formulas based solely on estimated PEEP transmission.