Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Surfactant Depletion Combined with Injurious Ventilation Results in a Reproducible Model of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
Published on: April 7, 2021
Redox imbalance and ventilator-induced lung injury
Sekhar P Reddy1, Paul M Hassoun, Roy Brower
1Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. sreddy@jhsph.edu
Abstract:
Mechanical ventilation (MV) is an indispensable therapy in the care of critically ill patients with acute lung injury and the acute respiratory distress syndrome; however, it is also known to further lung injury in certain conditions of mechanical stress, leading to ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). The mechanisms by which conventional MV exacerbates lung injury and inflammation are of considerable clinical significance. Redox imbalance has been postulated, among other mechanisms, to enhance/perpetuate susceptibility to VILI. A better understanding of these pathologic mechanisms will help not only in alleviating the side effects of mechanical forces but also in the development of new therapeutic strategies. Here, we review the relevance of oxidative stress in VILI from human studies as well as cellular and mouse models of mechanical stress. Potential therapeutic avenues for the treatment of VILI with exogenous administration of antioxidants also are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Acute Respiratory Failure-II
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
Acute Respiratory Failure-III
Acute Respiratory Failure-I
Definition: It is defined by specific criteria based on blood gas measurements. Hypoxemia happens when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) falls below 60 mmHg. At the same time,...
Acute Respiratory Failure-V
Ensure that patients are monitored continuously for their response to therapy, including changes in...
Physiological Control of Respiration
Breathing, a seemingly passive process, is regulated by the respiratory center in the brainstem. This center coordinates the involuntary control of respirations, which means it occurs without conscious effort, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted pattern.
Regulation of Ventilation
The body maintains ventilation by monitoring levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), and hydrogen ion concentration (pH) in the arterial blood. Among these factors, the level of CO2 plays a crucial...
Mechanical Ventilation II: Invasive Ventilation
Negative-Pressure Ventilators
Negative-pressure ventilators create a vacuum around the chest or body to draw air into the lungs, simulating breathing. This method does not require an...
