Impact of positive pressure ventilation on mean systemic filling pressure in critically ill patients after death

The physiology of the mean systemic filling pressure (Pms) is not well understood in human beings. This study is the first report of a tidal ventilation- and positive end-expiratory pressure-related increase in Pms in critically ill patients. The results challenge the utility and the value estimating Pms in heart-beating patients by reconstruction of the venous return curve using varying inflation pressures.