What is the normal range for Pplat?

The normal range for plateau pressure (Pplat) is considered to be less than 30 cm H2O. Pplat is a critical measurement obtained during mechanical ventilation that reflects the pressure needed to maintain inflation of the lungs when there is no airflow. It is an important indicator of lung compliance and can help to identify potential issues such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or other forms of respiratory failure.

Maintaining Pplat within an acceptable range is essential to prevent ventilator-induced lung injury. Values above this threshold can indicate decreased lung compliance or increased resistance, which can negatively affect patient outcomes. Therefore, understanding that normal Pplat should be less than 30 cm H2O helps in managing patients on mechanical ventilation effectively.