Conclusion
obese, critically ill, non-obese ARDS, ARDS
OBESE, CRITICALLY ILL, ARDS
Basic respiratory mechanics and gas exchange features of obese patients are similar to those observed in non-obese ARDS patients. But an advanced assessment of respiratory mechanics allows to show that end-expiratory esophageal pressure, although largely distributed, is higher in obese patients. Chest wall compliance is not altered in obese or ARDS patients and is not easily predictable by patients’ general characteristics. A complete airway closure can be found in around 25% of critically ill patients ventilated with a PEEP of 5 cmH