• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.6-15
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• 1993

Background: Positive end, expiratory pressure (PEEP) has become one of the standard therapies for adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Total static compliance has been proposed as a guide to determine the size of PEEP ('best PEEP') which is of unproven clinical benefit and remains controversial. Besides increasing functional residual capacity and thus improving oxygenation, PEEP stimulate prostacyclin secretion and was proposed for the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism. But little is known about the effect of PEEP on hemodynamic and gas exchange disturbances in acute pulmonary embolism. Methods: To study the validity of total static compliance as a predictor of 'best PEEP' in ARDS and acute pulmonary embolism, experimental ARDS was induced in mongrel dog with oleic acid and acute pulmonary embolism with autologous blood clot. Then hemodynamic and gas exchange parameters were measured with serial increment of PEEP. Results:In ARDS group, total static compliance and oxygen transport were maximal at 5 cm$H_2O$, and decreased thereafter (p<0.05). With increment of PEEP, arterial oxygen tension ($PaO_2$) and arterial carbon dioxide tension ($PaCO_2$) increased and cardiac output and physiological shunt decreased. In pulmonary embolism group, total static compliance, oxygen transport, physiological shunt and cardiac output decreased and $PaO_2$ and $PaCO_2$ increased with increment of PEEP (p<0.05). Comparing the change induced by increment of PEEP by 1 cm$H_2O$ in ARDS group with that in pulmonary embolism group, there was no significant difference between two groups except cardiac output which decreased more in pulmonary embolism group (p<0.05). In ARDS group, oxygen transport and total static compliance increased after PEEP application, and total static compliance was maximal at the PEEP level where oxygen transport was maximal. However in pulmonary embolism group, oxygen transport and total static compliance decreased after application of PEEP. There was significant correlation between change of total static compliance and change of oxygen transport in both groups. Conclusion: In both ARDS and acute pulmonary embolism, it can be concluded that total static compliance is useful as a predictor of 'best PEEP'.