3 ms·
In the case of ARDS (which is what the sickest coronavirus patients end up with), it's actually that expiratory pressure that's important (you wouldn't want to
by JshWright 7y ago
In the case of ARDS (which is what the sickest coronavirus patients end up with), it's actually that expiratory pressure that's important (you wouldn't want to configure the CPAP to drop the pressure on exhalation).
With ARDS the lungs fill with fluid, which causes the little sacs in the lungs (where gas exchange actually happens) to collapse and 'stick' closed. The higher 'baseline' pressure[1] helps keep them open.
[1] This is known as "PEEP" or "Peak End Expiratory Pressure", i.e. the pressure in the lungs at the end of exhalation. For ARDS/pneumonia patients, you want high PEEP.