What role does PEEP play in assist control ventilation?

PEEP, or positive end-expiratory pressure, plays a crucial role in assist control ventilation by maintaining end-expiratory lung volume. This is achieved by preventing the complete collapse of alveoli at the end of expiration, which helps to improve oxygenation by increasing functional residual capacity and enhancing gas exchange.

By keeping some pressure in the airways at the end of expiration, PEEP helps recruit collapsed or under-inflated alveoli, promoting better ventilation-perfusion matching. This is particularly important in patients with conditions like Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) or other forms of respiratory failure, where maintaining adequate lung volumes is essential for effective oxygenation and carbon dioxide removal.

In assist control ventilation, the use of PEEP is an intentional strategy to optimize the ventilatory support provided to patients, as it directly influences the mechanical properties of the lungs and aids in maintaining an effective tidal volume throughout the breathing cycle.