[Ventilation as a trigger for organ dysfunction and sepsis]

Both in the intensive care setting and during surgery, mechanical ventilation plays an important role in the treatment of critically ill patients with lung injury, but also in lung healthy patients. Mechanical ventilation is noncurative and is accompanied by various severe side effects. It is hypothesized that multiorgan failure can be induced by mechanical ventilation. Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest cross-talk between lungs and other organs. In particular, the activation of specific cells and cell programs in peripheral organs is an important step on the way to multiorgan failure. In addition to bidirectional connection between the lung and brain, nonprotective ventilation leads to cell apoptosis in the kidney and intestine and leads to an increase of biomarkers for organ dysfunction. It is believed that both inflammation mediators and pro-apoptotic factors are responsible for organ dysfunction.