PEEP Medical Abbreviation: Positive Pressure Explained

Understanding What PEEP Stands For

PEEP means Positive End-Expiratory Pressure.
It is a setting on a ventilator that keeps a small amount of pressure in the lungs after a patient exhales.

This pressure keeps the airways from collapsing. It also helps oxygen move more easily into the bloodstream.

Why PEEP Matters in Respiratory Care

PEEP supports patients who cannot breathe well on their own.
Healthcare providers use it to:

• Improve oxygen levels
• Keep lung tissue open
• Reduce the work of breathing
• Prevent collapse of the airway
• Support recovery during severe illness

PEEP is essential in conditions like pneumonia, ARDS, COPD flare-ups, and respiratory failure.

Higher levels of PEEP may be needed when the lungs are stiff or filled with fluid. Lower levels help patients who are improving.

Recent research confirms that using PEEP carefully helps keep alveoli open and reduces lung injury, making it a key tool in ventilator management.

How PEEP Works on a Ventilator

A ventilator delivers air under pressure.
PEEP keeps part of that pressure present after the patient exhales.

With PEEP:

• The lungs stay slightly inflated
• Oxygen exchange improves
• Breathing becomes easier
• Less force is needed to take the next breath

Therapists adjust PEEP based on oxygen levels, lung scans, and how well the patient tolerates the settings.

Where You Might See PEEP

You may see PEEP documented in:

• ICU ventilator settings
• Respiratory therapy notes
• Anesthesia records
• ARDS treatment protocols
• Emergency room stabilization notes

PEEP is used anywhere a patient needs mechanical ventilation or careful breathing support.

PEEP Compared With Other Ventilator Terms

Ventilator language can be confusing. Here’s how PEEP differs from other terms:

• PEEP: Pressure left in lungs at end of exhalation
• CPAP: Continuous pressure during the whole breath cycle
• FiO₂: Oxygen concentration delivered
• PIP: Peak inspiratory pressure, the highest pressure during inhalation

PEEP protects the lungs. FiO₂ supplies oxygen. Both work together to stabilize breathing.