When was positive end-expiratory pressure first introduced to treat patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome?

Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) was first introduced in the 1970s as a treatment for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Early studies highlighted its benefits in improving oxygenation and lung function in patients with this condition. The technique became more widely adopted in the clinical setting as understanding of ARDS progressed through the 1980s and 1990s.