The mechanical ventilator: a potentially dangerous tool.
Mechanical ventilation is an important therapeutic technique for patients with respiratory failure. Nonetheless, it can be potentially dangerous, worsening by itself pre-existing lesions and producing new ones. The author carefully reviews the results of a number of long term studies in large animals, which highlight the factors causing ventilator-induced lung injury. When the pathology is not manageable with non invasive approach, invasive mechanical ventilation should be tailored to the patient to avoid iatrogenic damage.
Kolobow
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Pulmonary-Critical Care Medicine Branch, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D051381:Rats; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012756:Sheep; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical / Q000009:adverse effects*