Podcast 517: It's all about the PEEP

Contributor: Dylan Luyten, MD

Educational Pearls:

• Bag-valve masks (BVM) typically  have a port to connect O2 to. Unfortunately room air becomes entrained in the mask, reducing the FiO2 delivered to the patient. This can be overcome by using a PEEP (positive end-expiratory pressure) valve on the BMV 
• PEEP valves function by keeping alveoli open in the lungs at the end of expiration. This increases the oxygen diffusing ability of the lungs, keeping patients' oxygen saturations higher. 
• Patients who are critically ill can become quickly hypoxic after RSI meds due to reduced functional residual lung capacity - an issue that can be overcome with a PEEP valve 
• PEEP also will reduce work of breathing in COPD and CHF patients

References

Bucher JT, Cooper JS. Bag Mask Ventilation (Bag Valve Mask, BVM) [Updated 2019 Jul 30]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441924/

Summarized by Will Dewispelaere, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD