Intrinsic (or auto-) PEEP during controlled mechanical ventilation

Abstract

Extrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) applied to the patient at the airway opening is used artificially to increase end-expiratory lung volume. Extrinsic PEEP is increased or decreased in small increments in ventilator-dependent patients because of its marked effects on cardiorespiratory status. Unintentional or unmeasured end-expiratory hyperinflation, called intrinsic or auto-PEEP, can also occur and have similarly marked profound cardiorespiratory effects in ventilator-dependent patients during controlled mechanical ventilation. Ventilatory settings can interact with the passive process of expiration and generate intrinsic or auto-PEEP [1, 2].