Figure 3

End-expiratory occlusion test. The end-expiratory occlusion (EEO) test consists in interrupting mechanical ventilation at the end of expiration during 15 seconds. This suppresses the cyclic decrease in cardiac preload, which normally occurs at each mechanical insufflation. Therefore, this brief procedure should increase cardiac preload and can serve as a test to assess preload responsiveness and hence to predict the response to a subsequent fluid infusion.