Backgound: Some workers recommend using periodic recruitment maneuvers in ARDS patients whereby sustained inflation pressures are used to recruit atelectatic regions of the lung and to improve oxygenation. Aim: Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of the CPAP recruitment maneuver in ALI and ARDS patients. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients were studied. Baseline arterial blood gases and a complete hemodynamic profile were obtained. FiO2 was then raised to 1.0 for 10 min after which a RM was performed (40 cm H2O CPAP for 40 sec). FiO2 was then decreased gradually to the lowest level maintaining the SaO2 > 90% and < 94%. PEEP levels will then be lowered gradually by 2 cm H2O every 10 minutes till SaO2 drops to below 90%. At this point a repeat CPAP recruitment maneuver (FiO2 1.0) was undertaken, at the end of which the PEEP level and FiO2 will be set at the setting prior to the desaturation (optimal PEEP/ FiO2 levels). Arterial blood gases were obtained at 10 min, 1 hr and 4 hrs after the final RM. Results: Statistical analysis of the data obtained showed that the RM resulted in a significant increase in the PaO2 that was maintained for 4 hrs after the final RM. There was also a significant increase in the PaO2/FiO2 and also a significant decrease in the PA-aDO2. The PEEP and FiO2 requirements showed a significant decreased at the end of the procedure as compared to the baseline requirements. No significant adverse effects occurred and the procedures were well tolerated. Conclusion: We have found that the CPAP recruitment maneuver resulted in better oxygenation while at the same time decreasing the patient’s PEEP and FiO2 requirements and therefore protecting the patient from the detrimental effects of both the high PEEP and high FiO2 levels. We have found it to be a safe maneuver to perform to improve the patient’s oxygenation.