Continuous negative abdominal distension augments recruitment of atelectatic lung.

The article discusses a study which examined the association of continuous negative abdominal pressure using an iron lung on the augmentation of positive end-expiratory pressure in recruiting atelectatic lung. Analyzing the results of a computerized tomography suggests that continuous negative abdominal pressure was an effective adjunct to positive end-expiratory pressure for recruiting atelectasis in dependent and diaphragmatic regions.