True or False: PEEP is considered additive.

PEEP, or Positive End-Expiratory Pressure, is indeed considered additive in the context of mechanical ventilation. When PEEP is used, it adds to the baseline level of pressure in the airways at the end of expiration, preventing complete lung collapse and improving oxygenation. By maintaining a certain level of pressure in the airways, PEEP increases functional residual capacity (FRC) and helps recruit collapsed alveoli, enhancing lung compliance and gas exchange.

When mechanical ventilation is administered with PEEP, the effects of this setting are combined with other ventilatory parameters, such as tidal volume and inspiratory pressure. This additive nature means that the beneficial effects of PEEP can work in conjunction with other settings to optimize ventilation and improve the patient's respiratory status.

Understanding the additive nature of PEEP is crucial, as it allows healthcare providers to tailor ventilation strategies more effectively. The other choices, while thoughtful considerations, do not capture the core principle that PEEP operates on an additive basis within the mechanical ventilation framework.