Harefuah
-
Mechanical ventilation is one of the most important technologies used in critically ill patients. In many patients, the use of mechanical ventialtion and weaning from mechanical ventialtion may be complicated by occurence of positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) which is created by the mechanical and physiological properties of the pulmonary system and the mechanical ventilator. In order to minimize the detrimental effects of spontaneous PEEP, which is also termed intrinsic PEEP (PEEPi) or autoPEEP, clinicians should be aware of the mechanisms leading to PEEPi, and the possible ways of diminishing it. This review will present some aspects of PEEPi including the most common ways of reducing it and it's deleterious effects.