airway opening pressure

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Related to airway opening pressure: Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure, airway pressure release ventilation, Bilevel positive airway pressure, Mean Airway Pressure

airway opening pressure

The pressure at the access point to a patient's airway, (nose, mouth, or for a mechanically ventilated patient, the trachea). When this pressure exceeds the alveolar pressure, gases tend to move into the lower airways and open the alveoli. When this pressure is less than the alveolar pressure, gases tend to move out of the lungs and into the atmosphere.

See: alveolar pressure