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Updated: May 17, 2026

Surfactant Depletion Combined with Injurious Ventilation Results in a Reproducible Model of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
Published on: April 7, 2021
[Ventilation in acute respiratory distress. Lung-protective strategies]
C S Bruells1, R Rossaint, R Dembinski
1Klinik für Anästhesiologie, Universitätsklinikum der RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen, Germany. cbruells@ukaachen.de
Abstract:
Ventilation of patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with protective ventilator settings is the standard in patient care. Besides the reduction of tidal volumes, the adjustment of a case-related positive end-expiratory pressure and preservation of spontaneous breathing activity at least 48 h after onset is part of this strategy. Bedside techniques have been developed to adapt ventilatory settings to the individual patient and the different stages of ARDS. This article reviews the pathophysiology of ARDS and ventilator-induced lung injury and presents current evidence-based strategies for ventilator settings in ARDS.
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