[Management of acute pulmonary failure: diagnostics-ventilation-withdrawal]

Acute pulmonary failure by definition excludes cardiac insufficiency as the pathogenetic mechanism involved in the development of acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The systemic inflammatory reaction underlying acute pulmonary failure has many etiological causes. One of the most important trigger mechanisms is sepsis. In the realm of cardiac intensive care medicine, the systemic inflammatory reaction is observed in conjunction with assist systems, during extracorporeal circulation, or in the course of cardiogenic shock. In the end, even mechanical ventilation itself can elicit an inflammatory reaction and result in pulmonary failure through ventilator-associated lung injury. Knowledge of the mechanisms has led to the concept of protective ventilation, which exerts both prophylactic and therapeutic effects. Protective ventilation is an integral part of a bundle of therapeutic intensive care measures. Both constitute the essence of management of acute pulmonary failure.