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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Ex Vivo Porcine Experimental Model for Studying and Teaching Lung Mechanics
Published on: April 19, 2024
Alveolar recruitment maneuver in anesthetic practice: how, when and why it may be useful
Luciana Oliveira Gonçalves1, Domingos Dias Cicarelli
1Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP.
Background And Objectives:
Alveolar recruitment maneuver (ARM) is the reopening of lung tissue collapsed by increased airway inspiratory pressure, primarily performed in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. This study aimed at evaluating ARM in anesthesia, how to do it and in which clinical situations.
Methods:
Literature review using MedLine database in the period 1993 to 2004.
Results:
Most common approach for recruitment maneuver is sustained inflation by CPAP with pressures varying from 30 to 40 cmH2O for 30 to 90 seconds. ARM was beneficial during laparoscopic procedures, single-lung ventilation surgeries and cardiac surgeries, and for obese and pediatric patients.
Conclusions:
Recruitment maneuver may be useful for anesthetic practice, improving postoperative oxygenation and re-expanding atelectasis of anesthetized patients.
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