In 23 patients with advanced stages of acute respiratory failure, the value of various parameters for estimating the efficiency of ventilation with PEEP were analysed. PEEP increments of 1 cm of water corresponded to an increase of PaO2 of 2 mmHg. The cardiac output decreased from 8.3 +/- 0.3 l/min mean value at ZEEP to 7.3 +/- 0.3 L/min at a PEEP of +15 cm H2O. Corresponding to this, the oxygen transport showed a decrease from 1042 +/- 62 ml/min to 894 +/- 115 ml/min. The total compliance of 34 ml/cm H2O at ZEEP is already significantly reduced (a sign of the severe respiratory failure) and falls still further at a PEEP of 15 cm H2O to 22 ml/cm H2O. No notable recruitment of non ventilated alveolar spaces can be expected, in spite of the slight increase in the arterial oxygen tension. Taking the "best PEEP" (PEEP with maximum oxygen transport) as a reference point, arterial and mixed venous oxygen tension increase, the cardiac output decreases above this point and the total respiratory compliance shows no obvious changes. In the advanced stage of severe respiratory failure one cannot use the mixed venous oxygen tension or the compliance to find the best PEEP. The danger of barotrauma by PEEP ventilation in cases of significantly reduced compliance has to be considered in the choice of the ventilation pattern. The arterial oxygen tension may lead to a wrong estimation of the total efficiency of PEEP.

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