Intrinsic PEEP and unilateral lung hyperinflation. Pathophysiology and clinical significance.

Over a 14-month period, three patients developed unilateral lung hyperinflation during mechanical ventilation as a manifestation of intrinsic PEEP. These patients all had a history of CAO and an inflammatory or fibrotic disease process involving the contralateral lung. Physicians caring for patients with CAO need to be familiar with this presentation of intrinsic PEEP due to the associated barotrauma and cardiac dysfunction which can result from it.