The therapeutic application of end-expiratory pressure in the meconium aspiration syndrome.

The effectiveness of end-expiratory pressure (EEP) in relieving hypoxemia in the meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) was studied in 14 patients with the disorder. These infants demonstrated a direct, mean PO2 response of 12 torr/cm H2O EEP. A maximum PO2 response was observed in an EEP range of 4 to 7 cm H2O. EEP was equally effective whether patients were breathing spontaneously or were being mechanically ventilated. EEP is useful in the treatment of hypoxemia in the infants with meconium aspiration syndrome.