Positive end-expiratory pressure in COVID-19-related ARDS: Do not forget the airway closure

Airway closure is a physiological phenomenon in which the distal airways are obstructed when the airway pressure drops below the airway opening pressure. We assessed this phenomenon in 27 patients with coronavirus disease 2019-related acute respiratory distress syndrome. Twelve (44%) patients had an airway opening pressure above 5 cmH(2)O. The median airway opening pressure was 8 cmH(2)O (interquartile range, 7-10). with a maximum value of 17 cmH(2)O. Three patients had a baseline positive end-expiratory pressure lower than the airway opening pressure. (C) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, airway closure was observed in patients with coronavirus disease 2019-related acute respiratory distress syndrome. Among the patients, 44% had an airway opening pressure above 5 cmH(2)O, with a median value of 8 cmH(2)O.