RELAx – REstricted versus Liberal positive end-expiratory pressure in patients without ARDS: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

摘要

BackgroundEvidence for benefit of high positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is largely lacking for invasively ventilated, critically ill patients with uninjured lungs. We hypothesize that ventilation with low PEEP is noninferior to ventilation with high PEEP with regard to the number of ventilator-free days and being alive at day 28 in this population.