Mechanisms underlying the lung-protective effects of FLow- controlled EXpiration

During mechanical ventilation the expiration occurs passively and is determined by the recoil forces of the respiratory system. In an experimental study in pigs we could find that linearization of the expiratory flow via FLow-controlled EXpiration (FLEX) [1] is lung protective [2]. Utilizing electrical impedance tomography (EIT) we aimed at investigating the mechanisms underlying the lung-protective effects of FLEX.