luftveiskampressure

Luftveiskampressure, or airway pressure, is the pressure within the conducting airways from the larynx to the alveoli. It is the force exerted on the airway walls and is typically measured relative to atmospheric pressure, commonly expressed in cm H2O or kilopascals (kPa). The value changes during the breathing cycle and depends on whether a person is breathing spontaneously or is mechanically ventilated.

In clinical practice, airway pressure is monitored to assess lung mechanics and ventilation. Peak airway pressure (Paw or PIP) reaches its maximum during inspiration, while plateau pressure (Pplat) is measured during an inspiratory hold and reflects alveolar pressure. The driving pressure, defined as Pplat minus positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), relates to lung compliance and the amount of air delivered with each breath. Waveforms of airway pressure help clinicians evaluate obstruction, compliance, and the effects of therapeutic interventions.

Clinical importance centers on avoiding injurious pressures while ensuring adequate ventilation. Excessively high airway pressures can cause barotrauma or volutrauma and may worsen lung injury, whereas too-low pressures can lead to hypoventilation and inadequate gas exchange. Lung-protective ventilation strategies aim to minimize pressure-related harm by using lower tidal volumes, appropriate PEEP levels, and maintaining plateau pressures below roughly 30 cm H2O, with targets tailored to the patient and condition.

Physiologically, airway pressure is shaped by airway resistance, lung and chest wall compliance, and patient effort. In diseases with stiff lungs or obstructive airway disease, management of airway pressure and ventilatory settings differs accordingly. Beyond intensive care, airway pressure measurements are also used in anesthesia, pulmonary function testing, and respiratory research to assess mechanics and guide treatment.