The Impact of PEEP-guided Electrical Impedance Tomography on Oxygenation and Pulmonary Mechanics in Moderate-to-severe ARDS

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in its moderate to severe forms is associated with high mortality. Mechanical ventilation (MV) remains the cornerstone of ARDS management but carries a significant risk of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), a fundamental component of MV, is widely utilized in clinical practice; however, optimal PEEP selection for patients with moderate to severe ARDS remains a complex and unresolved challenge. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT), a bedside imaging modality that evaluates regional ventilation distribution, offers a means of individualizing PEEP settings in mechanically ventilated patients. By balancing the competing risks of alveolar overdistension and collapse, EIT facilitates precision in PEEP titration. This study compares the impact of EIT-guided PEEP selection versus the conventional low FiO2-PEEP table on blood oxygenation and pulmonary mechanics.