Quantification of lung collapse during peeptitration by electrical impedance tomography in experimental ards - comparison with quantitative ct analysis

Introduction Tidal recruitment of nonaerated lung is a main cause of ventilator associated lung injury. CT as the gold standard for quantifying lung collapse (CT-collapse) is associated with certain risks for the patient (e.g. radiation exposure or transportation) and cannot be used for repeated assessments. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) instead is a bed-side non-invasive radiation-free continuous technique for monitoring of changes in thoracic air content and distribution. EIT may also allow quantification of recruitable lunge collapse (EIT-collapse) [1].