Pros and Cons of Positive End-Expiratory Pressure Titration Guided by Electrical Impedance Tomography in Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis.

This study explored the effectiveness of an electrical impedance tomography (EIT)-based positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) titration strategy compared with traditional methods in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A systematic search of the literature was conducted through PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, resulting in the inclusion of 12 relevant studies. The results showed no significant differences between the EIT group and the traditional group with respect to PEEP levels, oxygenation index, lung compliance, ICU length of stay, or APACHE II scores. However, the mortality rate in the EIT group was significantly lower than that in the traditional group (OR = 0.59, p = 0.03), and their mean arterial pressure was also lower (SMD = -0.28, p = 0.03). Therefore, the EIT-guided PEEP titration protocol demonstrates superior mortality outcomes compared to traditional methods. Key Words: Electrical impedance tomography, Positive end-expiratory pressure, acute respiratory distress syndrome.