Pediatric anesthesia & critical care
Effect of high positive end-expiratory pressure on perioperative atelectasis in neonates and small infants (0–6 months) with healthy lungs: A randomized controlled trial
Authors' conclusion
Although high PEEP is more effective than conventional PEEP in reducing intraoperative atelectasis, it does not appear to provide any postoperative benefits.
Study context
- Population
- Neonates and small infants aged 0–6 months with healthy lungs undergoing surgery
- Participants
- 44 neonates · 1,056 lung ultrasound (LUS) images
- Comparison
- Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) 5 cmH2O vs PEEP 8 cmH2O
- Primary endpoint
- LUS score at four time points (after intubation, end of surgery, 30 min after extubation, 24 h postoperatively)
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Total LUS score at end of surgery (T2) · End of surgery
PEEP 5 cmH2O
14.5
unspecified 5.1
PEEP 8 cmH2O
11.4
unspecified 4.4
P = 0.039
Secondary outcomes
Intraoperative driving pressure · During surgery
P = 0.010
Incidence of PPCs · First 7 postoperative days
- Remained low in both groups
Original publication
Effect of high positive end-expiratory pressure on perioperative atelectasis in neonates and small infants (0–6 months) with healthy lungs: A randomized controlled trial. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. Published 19 November 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →