Plateau pressure (PPLAT) is the pressure applied to small airways and alveoli during positive-pressure mechanical ventilation.Morgan, Edward G., Maged Mikhail and Michael Murry. Clinical Anesthesiology, Fourth edition, 2006. McGraw Hill, Philadelphia. Pg. 82 It is measured during an inspiratory pause on the mechanical ventilator.Moon, Richard and Enrico Camporesi “Respiratory Monitoring”. Miller’s Anesthesia, Sixth edition, Ronald Miller (Ed), 2005, Elsevier, New York. Pg.1466. In ARDS maintain plateau pressure <30cm of water measured on ventilator.
References