Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Monitoring Lung Function with Electrical Impedance Tomography in the Intensive Care Unit
Published on: September 6, 2024
PEEP titration guided by ventilation homogeneity: a feasibility study using electrical impedance tomography
Zhanqi Zhao1, Daniel Steinmann, Inéz Frerichs
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Furtwangen University, Jakob-Kienzle-Strasse 17, D-78054 Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany. zhanqi.zhao@hs-furtwangen.de
The global inhomogeneity (GI) index, using electrical impedance tomography (EIT), is a feasible method for setting positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) to improve lung ventilation homogeneity. This approach shows comparable results to existing methods.
Area of Science:
- Critical care medicine
- Respiratory physiology
- Medical imaging technology
Background:
- Lung protective ventilation strategies necessitate precise positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) settings.
- Current clinical methods for determining optimal PEEP are limited.
- Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) offers a non-invasive way to visualize ventilation distribution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of using the global inhomogeneity (GI) index derived from EIT images to guide PEEP titration.
- To compare the GI index method with established PEEP setting techniques.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 10 mechanically ventilated patients with healthy lungs.
- Ventilation homogeneity was monitored using EIT during a standardized incremental PEEP trial (0-28 mbar).
- Optimal PEEP was identified as the level with the lowest GI index, with comparisons to dynamic compliance and compliance-volume curve methods.
Main Results:
- The GI index method identified an optimal PEEP of 12.2 ± 4.6 mbar.
- No significant differences were found between the GI index method and dynamic compliance (11.4 ± 2.3 mbar) or compliance-volume curve (12.2 ± 4.9 mbar) methods (P > 0.6).
Conclusions:
- The GI index is a feasible and reasonable tool for selecting PEEP levels based on ventilation homogeneity.
- This method may enhance understanding of lung mechanics and tidal volume distribution.
- The GI index has potential as a guide for optimizing ventilator settings.
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