New aspects of pulmonary mechanics: ‘slowly” distensible compartments of the respiratory system, identified by a PEEP step maneuver

Objective The aims of the present study were 1) to evaluate a method for identification of “slowly” distensible compartments of the respiratory system (rs), which are characterized by long mechanical time constants (RC) and 2) to identify “slowly” distensible rs-compartments in mechanically ventilated patients.