What is the most common recruitment maneuver?

The most common recruitment maneuver involves increasing PEEP to a high level for a short period. This technique is used to open collapsed or poorly ventilated alveoli in the lungs, which can help improve overall gas exchange and oxygenation. By temporarily increasing PEEP, the pressure helps to expand the lung units that are not getting adequate ventilation, facilitating the recruitment of more alveoli for better function.

This approach is based on the principle that higher levels of PEEP can improve lung recruitment by preventing airway closure and allowing for greater surface area for gas exchange. Once the maneuver is complete, PEEP levels can often be adjusted back down to more optimal levels to maintain ventilation without causing overdistention or hemodynamic instability.

In contrast, other options do not serve the same purpose as effectively. Decreasing PEEP levels can lead to reduced lung recruitment, while merely increasing FIO2 addresses hypoxemia but does not specifically target lung mechanics or recruitment. Using respiratory medications may have their roles in managing underlying conditions but do not serve as a direct recruitment strategy in mechanical ventilation.