Feb. 12, 2008 A comparison of two treatment methods for
critically ill patients with severe, rapid-onset lung disorders
treated with mechanical ventilators found no significant
difference in the risk of death, but did find that the newer
method reduced the rates of severe persistent low oxygen levels
and reduced the need for additional "rescue" therapies,
according to a new study. Acute lung injury (such as from severe
pneumonia or trauma) and acute respiratory distress syndrome
(ARDS; the most serious form of acute lung injury), can be
devastating complications of critical illness. Although
mechanical ventilation provides essential life support, it can
worsen lung injury. Low tidal volume (volume of air that is
drawn with each breath) ventilation reduces the risk of death in
critically ill patients with acute lung injury and ARDS. Adding
therapies to effectively splint open collapsed lung segments may
further reduce the risk of death, the authors write. Maureen O.
Meade, M.D., M.Sc., of Hamilton Health Scien