A system for adjusting extrinsic positive end expiratory pressure during an expiratory phase of a ventilator is provided. The system includes a computer system that comprises one or more physical processors programmed with computer program instructions which, when executed cause the computer system to: determine a respiratory reactance from airway flow information of the patient and airway pressure information of the patient, the airway flow information and airway pressure information of the patient being obtained from one or more sensors, and adjust the extrinsic positive end expiratory pressure during the expiratory phase of the ventilator such that the determined respiratory reactance falls within a defined respiratory reactance range.