Experimental intra-abdominal hypertension attenuates the benefit of positive end-expiratory pressure in ventilating effusion-compressed lungs*

Abstract

The presence of intra-abdominal hypertension negates most of the positive end-expiratory pressure 10 benefit in reversing pleural effusion-induced de-recruitment. Relief of intra-abdominal hypertension may be instrumental to the treatment of pleural effusion-associated lung restriction and cyclical tidal collapse and reopening.