The effect of positive end expiratory pressure on rebreathing and gas dilution in the Ayre's T-piece system--a laboratory study.

The effect of positive end expiratory pressure on the function of the Ayre's T-Piece System was studied using a simple lung model. Positive end expiratory pressure did not effect end tial CO2 during "controlled breathing" but caused an increase during "spontaneous breathing" when fresh gas flow was less than 3 times the minute volume. Gas dilution did not occur under any of the test conditions.