Over-distension of the airways by mechanical ventilation in the elderly: Adding insult to injury

Abstract

Setzer and colleagues demonstrate that older animals are more susceptible to ventilator-induced lung injury than young animals and develop a more pronounced local and systemic cytokine response to high tidal volumes. These data have significant implications for older patients receiving mechanical ventilation if these findings can be translated to human critical care medicine. © 2013 BioMed Central Ltd.