Lung recruitment is used to improve oxygenation and decrease the risk of ventilator induced lung injuries.Assessing the potential of recruitability is a pre-requisite for a rational recruitment strategy and setting of PEEP.Using a low Hair flow pressure-volume loop is helpful to assess the potential of recruitability at the bedside.
For patients with a high potential of recruitability, recruitment maneuvers are efficient with an appropriate setting of PEEP to maintain the lung recruited.Recruitment maneuvers use pressures from 40 to 60 cmH2O for a short Headstall and Breast Collar Sets » Fringe Headstall and Breastcollar Sets period of time, either with the sustained inflation or the staircase method.PEEP setting after the maneuver is important; a decreasing PEEP trial is a useful practical method.