Mechanical ventilation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome

Abstract

The objectives of mechanical ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome are aimed at providing adequate gas exchange while limiting ventilator-induced lung injury. Optimizing positive end-expiratory pressure should result from a compromise between alveolar recruitment and lung overinflation. Reducing tidal volume below 10 ml/kg, limiting plateau airway pressure to 30 cm H 2O, turning the patient in the prone position, and using a spontaneous mode as early as possible are the different means that can be recommended for optimizing the ventilatory strategy.