Anesthesia Technician Practice Exam 2026 – All-In-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

PEEP, or Positive End-Expiratory Pressure, is a mode of ventilation where a pressure is maintained in the airways at the end of expiration. This technique is utilized across various forms of ventilation to improve oxygenation and prevent the alveoli from collapsing.

Utilizing PEEP serves to enhance functional residual capacity (FRC) and optimize gas exchange by keeping the alveoli open, which is crucial in conditions like acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). It is particularly beneficial in controlled ventilation, where the ventilator takes complete control over the patient's breathing, but it is also advantageous in spontaneous and assisted ventilation. In spontaneous ventilation, where the patient initiates breaths, PEEP can help individuals with reduced lung compliance. In assisted ventilation, where the ventilator supports the patient’s breaths, PEEP contributes to maintaining sufficient oxygenation levels during those breaths.

Because of its versatility and the benefits it provides in enhancing pulmonary function across different ventilation types, PEEP is indeed applicable in all forms of ventilation.