Ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure reduces extravascular lung water and increases lymphatic flow in hydrostatic pulmonary edema

Abstract

a) The application of PEEP levels of between 10 and 20 cm H2O limits the increase of extravascular lung water in cases of hydrostatic pulmonary edema; and b) the application of 10 cm H2O of PEEP increases the lymphatic flow through the thoracic duct.