Which option best describes a lung recruitment maneuver?

• A. 25-35 cm H2O for 20-30 Seconds
• B. 35-45 cm H2O for 40-60 Seconds
• C. 50-60 cm H2O for 60-90 Seconds
• D. 15-25 cm H2O for 10-20 Seconds

Answer: (B)

A lung recruitment maneuver is a deliberate, temporary rise in airway pressure to pop open collapsed alveoli and improve overall lung aeration. The goal is to apply enough pressure to recruit units without causing overdistension or harming the patient. That balance is best achieved with a moderate-high pressure held for a short duration, which is why a sustained inflation around 35–45 cm H2O for about 40–60 seconds is considered appropriate. Pressures significantly lower than this may not recruit effectively, while higher pressures or longer durations increase the risk of barotrauma and hemodynamic instability. So the pattern that uses about 35–45 cm H2O for 40–60 seconds best fits the concept of a recruitment maneuver.