Scaramuzzo G, et al. - Researchers investigated if the information offered by regional pressure-volume (P-V) curves would be different from those obtained from global P-V curves, both in terms of upper and lower inflection points. For patients affected by acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome, pressure-volume curves were constructed for each pixel row from non-dependent to dependent lung regions. From 12 mechanically ventilated patients, they assessed slow-inflation P-V maneuvers data. High variability was demonstrated by regional inflection points derived by electrical impedance tomography (EIT), this was indicative of lung heterogeneity. More sensitive information could be provided by regional P-V curves obtained by EIT as compared with global lung mechanics on the pressures within which all lung regions express linear compliance.