Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze the physiologic effects of recruitment maneuvers (RM) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) ventilated with a lung protective strategy. Thirteen patients were enrolled, and 11 of them had primary ARDS. RM consisted of 2 min of pressure-controlled ventilation at a peak pressure of 45 cmH2O and a positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 10 cmH2O. Oxygenation did not change at first and 60th min after RM in the patients. RM induced changes in hemodynamics were not observed. In conclusion, RM had no effect on oxygenation and hemodynamics in ARDS patients ventilated with a lung protective strategy.