Abstract
Objective: To present electron micrographs of lung tissue obtained from a patient exposed to high ventilatory pressures in the context of pulmonary dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. Design: Case report. Setting: Adult intensive care unit of a university-affiliated teaching hospital. Patients: A patient exposed to high-pressure mechanical ventilation during support for acute respiratory distress syndrome; the acute respiratory distress syndrome in this case was secondary to septic shock. Measurements and Main Results: Scanning electron micrographs of lung tissue, focusing on the internal alveolar surfaces. Findings: Multiple gross disruptions of the alveolar walls, suggestive of stress fractures. Conclusion: High-pressure mechanical ventilation may promote fracturing of the alveolar blood:airspace barrier.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 2368-2370 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Critical care medicine |
Volume | 30 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 1 2002 |
Keywords
- Acute lung injury
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome
- Mechanical ventilation
- Pulmonary microvascular stress fractures
- Respiratory failure
- Ventilation strategies