What is auto peeping?
Daniel Johnson
Updated on May 13, 2026
Auto-PEEP is the
positive end-expiratory pressure
Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is the pressure in the lungs (alveolar pressure) above atmospheric pressure (the pressure outside of the body) that exists at the end of expiration.
› Positive_end-expiratory_pressure
air trapping
Air trapping, also called gas trapping, is an abnormal retention of air in the lungs where it is difficult to exhale completely. It is observed in obstructive lung diseases such as asthma, bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
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What is AutoPEEP?
Auto-positive end expiratory pressure (auto-PEEP) is a physiologic event that is common to mechanically ventilated patients. Auto-PEEP is commonly found in acute severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or patients receiving inverse ratio ventilation.How much auto PEEP is too much?
When used, it is recommended to maintain extrinsic PEEP below 75% to 85% of the auto-PEEP. Again, the use of extrinsic PEEP to treat auto-PEEP has to be driven by strong clinical sense as not all patients will benefit from it and others will be harmed.What is normal PEEP on ventilator?
This, in normal conditions, is ~0.5, while in ARDS it can range between 0.2 and 0.8. This underlines the need for measuring the transpulmonary pressure for a safer application of mechanical ventilation.What causes auto-PEEP?
Auto-PEEP is the positive end-expiratory pressure caused by the progressive accumulation of air (air trapping), due to incomplete expiration prior to the initiation of the next breath. This occurs when expiration is limited by airway narrowing or obstruction, or when expiratory time is limited.Auto-PEEP (Medical Definition) | Air Trapping, Breath Stacking, Intrinsic PEEP
What is gas trapping?
Air trapping, also called gas trapping, is an abnormal retention of air in the lungs where it is difficult to exhale completely. It is observed in obstructive lung diseases such as asthma, bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.How do you treat air trapping in your lungs?
Treatment depends in large part on what's causing your hyperinflated lungs. Your doctor may prescribe a type of medicine called a bronchodilator. It can open up your airways and help reverse the effects of hyperinflated lungs by allowing the trapped air to escape. Certain types of exercise might also help.How is auto-PEEP measured on a ventilator?
MEASUREMENT
- PEEPi is measured by performing an end expiratory pause or hold manoeuvre.
- expiratory circuit occlusion for 3-5 seconds allows alveolar pressure to equilibrate with airway pressure.