Regional ventilation distribution and dead space in anaesthetized horses treated with and without continuous positive airway pressure: novel insights by electrical impedance tomography and volumetric capnography

In dorsally recumbent anaesthetized horses, CPAP of 8 cmH2O results in redistribution of ventilation towards the dependent lung regions, thereby improving ventilation-perfusion matching. This improvement was not associated with an increase in dead space indicative for a lack in distension of the airways or impairment of alveolar perfusion.