The therapeutic goal of mechanical ventilation shifts from maintaining regular gas exchange to preventing ventilator-induced lung injury. Atelectasis aggravates lung injury by reducing the lung size available for tidal ventilation. By preventing atelectasis with Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) and recruitment maneuvers, the end-expiratory lung volume can be increased, and lung damage can be reduced.~Although the recruitment maneuver improves oxygenation and reduces mortality, especially in patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), adverse side effects are sometimes observed. Most important of these are the risk of barotrauma after positive airway pressure applications, increased intrathoracic pressure and hemodynamic instability, and increased intracranial pressure risk after venous return disorder.~Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of recruitment maneuver on intracranial pressure by measuring optic nerve diameter with ultrasound before and after its application in patients with ARDS with impaired oxygenation and followed up with mechanical ventilator support.
Recruitment maneuver is used to reopen atelectasis alveoli. Positive airway pressure applied during the recruitment maneuver may increase intrathoracic pressure, resulting in hemodynamic instability, venous return disorders, and increased intracranial pressure. Our study will examine the effect of recruitment maneuver on intracranial pressure by evaluating Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter change.