High Positive End-Expiratory Pressure Is Associated with Improved Survival in Obese Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

摘要

BACKGROUND: In acute respiratory distress syndrome, minimizing lung injury from repeated collapse and reopening of alveoli by applying a high positive end-expiratory pressure improves oxygenation without influencing mortality. Obesity causes alveolar atelectasis, thus suggesting that a higher positive endexpiratory pressure might be more protective among the obese. We hypothesized that the effect of applying a high positive end-expiratory pressure on mortality from acute respiratory distress syndrome would differ by obesity status.