ABSTRACT Objective: To systematically review the effects of recruitment maneuvers on patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis using the PICO methodology with keywords (respiratory distress syndrome, recruitment maneuvers, lung recruitment, acute respiratory distress syndrome, alveolar recruitment, and adult acute respiratory distress syndrome). Studies involving patients >18 years, regardless of sex, with acute respiratory distress syndrome, mechanically ventilated for at least 24 h, published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, with no year restrictions, were included. […]