Open lung ventilation explained

Within the medical field of respiratory therapy, Open lung ventilation is a strategy that is utilized by several modes of mechanical ventilation to combine low tidal volume and applied PEEP to maximize recruitment of alveoli. The low tidal volume aims to minimize alveolar overdistention and the PEEP minimizes cyclic atelectasis. Working in tandem the effects from both decrease the risk of ventilator-associated lung injury.

Benefit

Some clinical trials indicate that open lung ventilation may improve mortality, other clinically important outcomes, and oxygenation.^{[1] [2]}

Dangers

Open lung ventilation is generally well tolerated.^[2]

Application

A universally accepted protocol for open lung ventilation has not been established.^[2]

References

1. Amato MB, Barbas CS, Medeiros DM, Magaldi RB, Schettino GP, Lorenzi-Filho G, etal . Effect of a protective-ventilation strategy on mortality in the acute respiratory distress syndrome. . N Engl J Med . 1998 . 338 . 6 . 347–54 . 9449727 . 10.1056/NEJM199802053380602 . free .
2. Villar J, Kacmarek RM, Pérez-Méndez L, Aguirre-Jaime A . A high positive end-expiratory pressure, low tidal volume ventilatory strategy improves outcome in persistent acute respiratory distress syndrome: a randomized, controlled trial. . Crit Care Med . 2006 . 34 . 5 . 1311–8 . 16557151 . 10.1097/01.CCM.0000215598.84885.01 .