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Fig. 1 | Journal of Anesthesia, Analgesia and Critical Care

Fig. 1

From: Expert opinion document: “Electrical impedance tomography: applications from the intensive care unit and beyond”

Fig. 1

demonstrates a regional analysis of lung mechanics obtained during the decremental PEEP trial, provided as a diagnostic tool. Alveolar overdistension is represented in orange as a “compliance loss” (C loss HP) that occurred at higher PEEP (more overdistension at time point A (PEEP 18 cmH2O) compared to B (PEEP 16 cmH2O)). Alveolar collapse is represented in white as a “compliance loss” (C loss LP) that occurred at lower PEEP (more collapse at time point F (PEEP 8 cmH2O) compared to E (PEEP 10 cmH2O)). The crossover point representing minimal overdistension and atelectasis was 10 cmH2O (time point E). Below this value, dorsal collapse increased. Above this value, no collapse was detected, but increasing ventral overdistension developed. This example illustrates how EIT might be used as an incentive to reduce PEEP and optimize regional lung mechanics in a patient with ARDS

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