what is a peep valve and what purpose is it for also in what type of application should it be used?

Question: Futher details is why and when should a peep valve be used? Also what is the purpose of a peep valve and how does it work? Lastly do most Ambu bags for resuscitation have peep valves or is it recommended (This is for use in Nursing Homes and Group Homes)?

Answers:
PEEP positive end expiratory pressure is used when an individual has difficulty with one of two things, keeping the lungs open due to air leak or sticky lungs like with premees, or to assist with total ventilation like with copd or emphysema clients that need the end pressure to maintain alveolar inflation. (ok there are more usages, but these are the primary ones. A PEEP valve just prevents the lungs from collapse during expiration. Most ambu valves have a one way valve but this is more to facilitate blowing air into the client then to refill fresh air instead of back filling the ambu bag with expired exchanged air from the patient.

Other Answers:
PEEP stands for Positive End Expiratory Pressure. PEEP is used to ventilated people who have ARDS - acute respiratory distress syndrome or pulmonary edema. PEEP maintains a pressure above atmospheric pressure within your lungs. It helps to keep the alveoli open and to reduce pulmonary edema (liquid entering the alveoli from the capillaries). PEEP value is the amount of pressure you maintain at the end of expiration. The pressure inside of your lungs at the end of expiration is normally 0 mmHg. PEEP valves are usually somewhere around 5 mmHg. Ambu bags used for resuscitation don't have PEEP. a respirator is required to set up a PEEP.

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No most ambu bags do not have a peep valve, but one can be attached easily. You use PEEP when a patient is intubated. It gives a little extra pressure at the end of the respiratory cycle to keep the alveoli from collapsing completely.
Source(s):
I'm a RN, CCRN

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