TABLE 3.

Cardiovascular status before and after intubation

	ZEEP=0 cmH2O (n=33)	PEEP=5 cmH2O (n=30)	P
LVEF below 40%*	10/27 (37.0)	11/24 (45.8)	0.59
Hypotension occurrence	16/33 (48.5)	16/30 (53.3)	0.74
Hypotension occurrence with LVEF <40%	5/16 (31.3)	7/16 (43.8)	0.55
Pre-exisitng hypotension†	6/33 (18.2)	9/30 (30.0)	0.41

Data presented as n/n (%) unless indicated otherwise.

^*Assessed by echocardiography or ventriculography less than one year before;

^†Patient hypotension before intubation and mechanical ventilation. LVEF Left ventricular ejection fraction; PEEP Positive end-expiratory pressure; ZEEP Zero end-expiratory pressure