Mean airway pressure as an index of mean alveolar pressure

Mean airway pressure (Pao) has been advocated as a useful index for monitoring hemodynamic performance and risk for barotrauma during mechanical ventilation. This is based on the assumption that Pao closely reflects mean alveolar pressure (Palv). In the present study we have compared Pao with Palv in 12 sedated, paralyzed, mechanically ventilated patients. External PEEP ranged from 0.3 to 8.9 cm H2O. Palv was estimated by measuring Pao after rapid flow interruptions made at different points in time of the breathing cycle, using a modification of the method of Fuhrman and coworkers (4). All subjects exhibited intrinsic PEEP (PEEPi), which ranged from 0.5 to 9.4 cm H2O. A significant negative correlation (p < 0.001) was found between Pao/Palv and PEEPi. On average, at PEEPi of 10 cm H2O, Pao underestimated Palv by about 50%. We conclude that Pao cannot be taken as an index of Palv in patients who exhibit dynamic hyperinflation and PEEPi caused by expiratory flow limitation.