Abstract
Traditional mechanical ventilation practices used generous tidal volumes in patients with acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS). This approach may have caused overdistention of aerated lung units, thus exacerbating lung injury in some patients. Several recent clinical trials of traditional versus lower tidal volume strategies in ALI/ARDS yielded disparate results. In the largest study, the lower tidal volume approach was associated with lower mortality and more ventilator-free days. This article reviews the rationale for tidal volume reduction in ALI/ARDS and the differences between the studies. Several different interpretations of the recent clinical trial results are addressed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1-13 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Critical care clinics |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2002 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine