04/07/2026
Auto-PEEP, also known as intrinsic PEEP, occurs when a patient does not fully exhale before the next breath begins during mechanical ventilation. This leads to air trapping and increased pressure within the lungs at the end of expiration.
It commonly occurs in conditions with airflow obstruction, such as COPD or asthma. Auto-PEEP can increase the work of breathing, impair venous return, reduce cardiac output, and cause patient-ventilator dyssynchrony.
Management typically involves reducing the respiratory rate, increasing expiratory time, or lowering tidal volume to allow more complete exhalation and prevent air trapping.
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