Respiratory controversies in the critical care setting. Does airway pressure release ventilation offer important new advantages in mechanical ventilator support?

Airway pressure-release ventilation (APRV) is a mechanical ventilation strategy that is usually time-triggered but can be patient-triggered, pressure-limited, and time-cycled. APRV provides 2 levels of airway pressure (P(high) and P(low)) during 2 time periods (T(high) and T(low)), both set by the clinician. APRV usually involves a long T(high) and a short T(low). APRV uses an active exhalation valve that allows spontaneous breathing during both T(high) and T(low). APRV typically generates a higher mean airway pressure with a lower tidal volume (V(T)) and lower positive end-expiratory pressure than comparable levels of other ventilation strategies, so APRV may provide better alveolar recruitment at a lower end-inflation pressure and therefore (1) decrease the risk of barotrauma and alveolar damage in patients with acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS), and (2) provide better ventilation-perfusion matching, cardiac filling, and patient comfort than modes that do not allow spontaneous breaths. However, if the patient makes a spontaneous breath during T(high), the V(T) generated could be much larger than the clinician-set target V(T), which could cause the end-inflation transpulmonary pressure and alveolar stretch to be much larger than intended or produced in other ventilation strategies. It is unknown whether a patient's inspiratory effort (and consequent larger V(T)) can damage alveoli in the way that mechanically delivered, positive-pressure breaths can damage alveoli in ALI/ARDS. Other ventilation modes also promote spontaneous breaths, but at overall lower end-inflation transpulmonary pressure. There is a dearth of data on what would be the optimal APRV inspiratory-expiratory ratio, positive end-expiratory pressure, or weaning strategy. The few clinical trials to date indicate that APRV provides adequate gas exchange, but none of the data indicate that APRV confers better clinical outcomes than other ventilation strategies.     

Airway pressure release ventilation versus assist-control ventilation: a comparative propensity score and international cohort study

Purpose

To compare characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients receiving airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) or biphasic positive airway pressure (BIPAP) to assist-control ventilation (A/C) as their primary mode of ventilatory support. The objective was to estimate if patients ventilated with APRV/BIPAP have a lower mortality.

Methods

Secondary analysis of an observational study in 349 intensive care units from 23 countries. A total of 234 patients were included who were ventilated only with APRV/BIPAP and 1,228 patients who were ventilated only with A/C. A case-matched analysis according to a propensity score was used to make comparisons between groups.

Results

In logistic regression analysis, the most important factor associated with the use of APRV/BIPAP was the country (196 of 234 patients were from German units). Patients with coma or congestive heart failure as the reason to start mechanical ventilation, pH <7.15 prior to mechanical ventilation, and patients who developed respiratory failure (SOFA score >2) after intubation with or without criteria of acute respiratory distress syndrome were less likely to be ventilated with APRV/BIPAP. In the case-matched analysis there were no differences in outcomes, including mortality in the intensive care unit, days of mechanical ventilation or weaning, rate of reintubation, length of stay in the intensive care unit or hospital, and mortality in the hospital.

Conclusions

In this study, the APRV/BIPAP ventilation mode is being used widely across many causes of respiratory failure, but only in selected geographic areas. In our patient population we could not demonstrate any improvement in outcomes with APRV/BIPAP compared with assist-control ventilation.     

Airway pressure release ventilation

Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) delivers continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and may support ventilation simultaneously. This investigation tested whether, after acute lung injury (ALI), APRV promotes alveolar ventilation and arterial oxygenation without increasing airway pressure (Paw) above the CPAP level and without depressing cardiac function. Ten anesthetized dogs randomly received either intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (IPPV) or APRV. APRV was delivered with a continuous-flow CPAP system. Expiration occurred when a switch in the expiratory limb opened and Paw decreased to near-ambient, which decreased lung volume. After baseline data collection, ALI was induced by infusing oleic acid iv. Two hours later, IPPV and APRV were administered randomly, and data were collected. With normal lungs, APRV and IPPV achieved similar gas exchange and hemodynamic function. During ALI, arterial oxygenation was improved, and peak Paw which did not exceed the CPAP level, was lower during APRV. Similar minute ventilations were delivered by both modes but resulted in lower PaCO2 with APRV. Thus, APRV decreased physiologic deadspace ventilation. Hemodynamic status was similar during both modes. Therefore, APRV is an improved method of oxygenation and ventilatory support for patients with ALI that will allow unrestricted spontaneous ventilation and may decrease the incidence of barotrauma.     

The spontaneous breathing pattern and work of breathing of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute lung injury

BACKGROUND: The spontaneous breathing pattern and its relationship to compliance, resistance, and work of breathing (WOB) has not been examined in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or acute lung injury (ALI). Clinically, the ratio of respiratory frequency to tidal volume (f/VT) during spontaneous breathing may reflect adaptation to altered compliance, resistance, and increased WOB. We examined the relationship between f/VT, WOB, and respiratory system mechanics in patients with ARDS/ALI. METHODS: Data from spontaneous breathing trials were collected from 33 patients (20 with ARDS, 13 with ALI) at various points in their disease course. WOB and respiratory system mechanics were measured with a pulmonary mechanics monitor that incorporates Campbell diagram software. Differences between the patients with ARDS and ALI were assessed with 2-sided unpaired t tests. Multivariate linear regression models were constructed to assess the relationship between f/VT and other pulmonary-related variables. RESULTS: Patients with ARDS had significantly lower compliance than those with ALI (24 +/- 6 mL/cm H2O vs 40 +/- 13 mL/cm H2O, respectively, p < 0.001), but this did not translate into significant differences in either WOB (1.70 +/- 0.59 J/L vs 1.43 +/- 0.90 J/L, respectively, p = 0.30) or f/VT (137 +/- 82 vs 107 +/- 49, respectively, p = 0.23). Multivariate linear regression modeling revealed that peak negative esophageal pressure, central respiratory drive, duration of ARDS/ALI, minute ventilation deficit between mechanical ventilation and spontaneous breathing, and female gender were the strongest predictors of f/VT. CONCLUSION: The characteristic rapid shallow breathing pattern in patients with ARDS/ALI occurs in the context of markedly diminished compliance, elevated respiratory drive, and increased WOB. That f/VT had a strong, inverse relationship to peak negative esophageal pressure also may reflect the influence of muscle weakness.     

Effects of spontaneous breathing during airway pressure release ventilation on renal perfusion and function in patients with acute lung injury

OBJECTIVE: Controlled mechanical ventilation can impair systemic and renal blood flow and function, which may be aggravated by respiratory acidosis. We hypothesized that partial ventilatory support using airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) with spontaneous breathing provides better cardiopulmonary and renal function than full ventilatory support using APRV without spontaneous breathing. DESIGN: Prospective randomized study. SETTING: Intensive care unit of a university hospital. PATIENTS: Twelve patients with acute lung injury (ALI). INTERVENTIONS: Airway pressure release ventilation with and without spontaneous breathing, maintaining either the same minute ventilation (V(E)) or the same airway pressure (Paw) limits. MEASUREMENTS: Systemic hemodynamics were estimated by double-indicator dilution, effective renal blood flow (ERBF) by para-aminohippurate, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by inulin clearance. RESULTS: Compared to APRV with spontaneous breathing, cardiac index (CI) was decreased when the upper Paw limit was increased to provide the same V(E) (4.26+/-1.21 l min(-1) m(-2)vs 3.72+/-0.99 l min(-1) m(-2); p<0.05) while CI was increased when Paw limits were held constant (4.91+/-1.41 l min(-1) m(-2); p<0.05). Effective renal blood flow and GFR were higher during APRV with spontaneous breathing (858+/-388 ml min(-1) m(-2) and 94+/-47 ml min(-1) m(-2)) than during APRV without spontaneous breathing and the same V(E) (714+/-236 ml min(-1) m(-2)and 82+/-35 ml min(-1) m(-2)) or the same Paw (675+/-287 ml min(-1) m(-2) and 80+/-41 ml min(-1) m(-2); p<0.05). Urine volume did not change. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous breathing during APRV was associated with better renal perfusion and function than APRV without spontaneous breathing applying either the same V(E) or the same Paw limits. Maintaining spontaneous breathing during ventilatory support may, therefore, be advantageous in preventing deterioration of renal function in patients with ALI.     

Airway pressure release ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome

Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) is an alternative mode of ventilation that is increasingly used in patients with acute respiratory failure, acute lung injury (ALI), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Animal and clinical studies have demonstrated that, compared with conventional ventilation, APRV has beneficial effects on lung recruitment, oxygenation, end-organ blood flow, pulmonary vasoconstriction, and sedation requirements. Further studies, however, are required to directly compare APRV to ARDSnet protocol ventilation, specifically in patients with ALI/ARDS, and to determine whether managing ALI/ARDS with APRV will also achieve mortality reduction.     

Regional lung aeration and ventilation during pressure support and biphasic positive airway pressure ventilation in experimental lung injury

Introduction  

There is an increasing interest in biphasic positive airway pressure with spontaneous breathing (BIPAP+SB_mean), which is a combination of time-cycled controlled breaths at two levels of continuous positive airway pressure (BIPAP+SB_controlled) and non-assisted spontaneous breathing (BIPAP+SB_spont), in the early phase of acute lung injury (ALI). However, pressure support ventilation (PSV) remains the most commonly used mode of assisted ventilation. To date, the effects of BIPAP+SB_mean and PSV on regional lung aeration and ventilation during ALI are only poorly defined.     

IPPV和APRV通气模式对健康和ALI犬心肺功能影响的比较

目的比较间歇正压通气（ＩＰＰＶ）和气道压力释放通气（ＡＰＲＶ）模式对健康和急性肺损伤（ＡＬＩ）犬心肺功能的影响。方法对健康和ＡＬＩ犬,分别用ＩＰＰＶ和ＡＰＲＶ模式通气,观察通气期间血流动力学、血气和呼吸生理的变化。结果对健康犬,采用相似的峰压进行通气,ＡＰＲＶ的平均气道压高于ＩＰＰＶ,除平均肺动脉压外,对血气和血流动力学影响,两者差别不显著。对ＡＬＩ犬,采用相似的平均气道压通气,ＩＰＰＶ的峰压显著高于ＡＰＲＶ,而血流动力学、血气变化相似,ＡＰＲＶ时ＰａＯ２／ＦｉＯ２比值显著优于ＩＰＰＶ时。结论ＡＰＲＶ与ＩＰＰＶ相比,能以较小的峰压达到相似的通气效果且氧合功能优于ＩＰＰＶ,更适用于ＡＬＩ者     

Influence of different release times on spontaneous breathing pattern during airway pressure release ventilation

OBJECTIVE: Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) is a ventilatory mode with a time cycled change between an upper (P(high)) and lower (P(low)) airway pressure level. APRV is unique because it allows unrestricted spontaneous breathing throughout the ventilatory cycle. We studied the influence of different release times (time of P(low)) on breathing pattern and gas exchange in patients during partial mechanical ventilation. SETTING: Mixed intensive care unit in a university hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty-eight patients were included in the study. Nine patients suffering from acute lung injury (ALI), 7 patients with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 12 patients with nearly normal lung function, ventilated for non-respiratory reasons (postoperatively), were studied prior to extubation. INTERVENTIONS: At constant pressure levels and a pre-set airway pressure release rate of 12/min, P(low) was diminished and P(high) was prolonged in four steps of 0.5 s. Each respiratory setting was studied for 20 min after a steady state period had been achieved. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We measured gas exchange and respiratory mechanics. The different time intervals of P(high) and P(low) had only minor effects on the actual spontaneous inspiration and expiration times, but the proportion of spontaneous breathing on total ventilation increased when the duration of P(low) was decreased. Gas exchange was almost unaffected by the interventions despite a significant increase in mean airway pressure. However, when P(low) was set to only 0.5 s an increase in PaCO(2) occurred in patients with COPD and ALI, probably due to a decrease in mechanical ventilatory support. CONCLUSIONS: Airway pressure release ventilation is an open system which allows patients to maintain the "time control" over the respiratory cycle independent of the chosen duration for P(high) and P(low).     

Assisted spontaneous breathing during early acute lung injury

In the early phase of their disease process, patients with acute lung injury are often ventilated with strategies that control the tidal volume or airway pressure, while modes employing spontaneous breathing are applied later to wean the patient from the ventilator. Spontaneous breathing modes may integrate intrinsic feedback mechanisms that should help prevent ventilator-induced lung injury, and should improve synchrony between the ventilator and the patient's demand. Airway pressure release ventilation with spontaneous breathing was shown to decrease cyclic collapse/recruitment of dependent, juxtadiaphragmatic lung areas compared with airway pressure release ventilation without spontaneous breathing. Combined with previous data demonstrating improved cardiorespiratory variables, airway pressure release ventilation with spontaneous breathing may turn out to be a less injurious ventilatory strategy.     

Assisted spontaneous breathing during early acute lung injury

In the early phase of their disease process, patients with acute lung injury are often ventilated with strategies that control the tidal volume or airway pressure, while modes employing spontaneous breathing are applied later to wean the patient from the ventilator. Spontaneous breathing modes may integrate intrinsic feedback mechanisms that should help prevent ventilator-induced lung injury, and should improve synchrony between the ventilator and the patient's demand. Airway pressure release ventilation with spontaneous breathing was shown to decrease cyclic collapse/recruitment of dependent, juxtadiaphragmatic lung areas compared with airway pressure release ventilation without spontaneous breathing. Combined with previous data demonstrating improved cardiorespiratory variables, airway pressure release ventilation with spontaneous breathing may turn out to be a less injurious ventilatory strategy.     

The impact of spontaneous breathing during mechanical ventilation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, controlled mechanical ventilation is generally used in the initial phase to ensure adequate alveolar ventilation, arterial oxygenation, and to reduce work of breathing without causing further damage to the lungs. Although introduced as weaning techniques, partial ventilator support modes have become standard techniques for primary mechanical ventilator support. This review evaluates the physiological and clinical effects of persisting spontaneous breathing during ventilator support in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. RECENT FINDINGS: The improvements in pulmonary gas exchange, systemic blood flow and oxygen supply to the tissue which have been observed when spontaneous breathing has been maintained during mechanical ventilation are reflected in the clinical improvement in the patient's condition. Computer tomography observations demonstrated that spontaneous breathing improves gas exchange by redistribution of ventilation and end-expiratory gas to dependent, juxtadiaphragmatic lung regions and thereby promotes alveolar recruitment. Thus, spontaneous breathing during ventilator support counters the undesirable cyclic alveolar collapse in dependent lung regions. In addition, spontaneous breathing during ventilator support may prevent increase in sedation beyond a level of comfort to adapt the patient to mechanical ventilation which decreases duration of mechanical ventilator support, length of stay in the intensive care unit, and overall costs of care giving. SUMMARY: In view of the recently available data, it can be concluded that maintained spontaneous breathing during mechanical ventilation should not be suppressed even in patients with severe pulmonary functional disorders.     

Assisted breathing is better in acute respiratory failure

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Mechanical ventilation is usually provided in acute lung injury to ensure alveolar ventilation and reduce the patients' work of breathing without further damaging the lungs by the treatment itself. Although partial ventilatory support modalities were initially developed for weaning from mechanical ventilation, they are increasingly used as primary modes of ventilation, even in patients in the acute phase of pulmonary dysfunction. The aim of this paper is to review the role of spontaneous breathing ventilatory modalities with respect to their physiologic or clinical evidence. RECENT FINDINGS: By allowing patients with acute lung injury to breathe spontaneously, one can expect improvement in gas exchange and in systemic blood flow, on the basis of both experimental and clinical trials. In addition, by increasing end-expiratory lung volume, as will occur when airway pressure release ventilation is used, recruitment of collapsed or consolidated lung is likely to occur, especially in juxtadiaphragmatic lung regions. Until recently, traditional approaches to mechanical ventilatory support of patients with acute lung injury have called for adaptation of the patient to the mechanical ventilator using heavy sedation and administration of neuromuscular blocking agents. Recent investigations have questioned the utility of sedation, muscle paralysis, and mechanical control of ventilation. Further, evidence exists that lowering sedation levels will decrease the duration of mechanical ventilatory support, the length of stay in the intensive care unit, and the overall costs of hospitalization. SUMMARY: On the basis of currently available data, the authors suggest the use of techniques of mechanical ventilatory support that maintain, rather than suppress, spontaneous ventilatory effort, especially in patients with severe pulmonary dysfunction.     

Spontaneous breathing affects the spatial ventilation and perfusion distribution during mechanical ventilatory support

OBJECTIVE: In acute respiratory failure, gas exchange improves with spontaneous breathing during airway pressure release ventilation (APRV). The mechanisms for this improvement are not fully clear. We have shown that APRV with spontaneous breathing reopens nonaerated lung tissue in dorsal juxtadiaphragmatic regions. We hypothesized that spontaneous breathing during APRV may redistribute ventilation and perfusion toward these reopened regions. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled study. SETTING: Animal research laboratory SUBJECTS: Twenty controlled mechanically ventilated pigs. INTERVENTIONS: Lung injury was induced by injection of oleic acid into the central circulation; thereafter, pigs were randomized to APRV with or without spontaneous breathing. To induce spontaneous breathing during APRV with spontaneous breathing, the mechanical respiratory rate was decreased by 50% in this group. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We measured respiratory mechanics, hemodynamics, gas exchange including the multiple inert gas elimination technique, and the spatial ventilation and perfusion distribution using single photon emission tomography. At similar minute ventilation and airway pressures, shunt remained stable during APRV with spontaneous breathing, whereas it increased during APRV without spontaneous breathing during the 2-hr study period (p = .006). Single photon emission tomography showed more ventilation (p < .001) and pulmonary blood (p < .025) flow in dorsal, juxtadiaphragmatic lung regions when spontaneous breathing was present. CONCLUSIONS: The beneficial effects of spontaneous breathing on intrapulmonary shunt and oxygenation are explained both by increased ventilation of aerated dependent lung tissue and by opening up nonaerated tissue so that ventilation is distributed to a larger share of the lung. Redistribution of perfusion is possibly secondary to the altered ventilation. The overall effect is a more efficient use of available lung tissue for gas exchange.     

The effects of pressure control versus volume control assisted ventilation on patient work of breathing in acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome

BACKGROUND: Patient work of breathing (WOB) during assisted ventilation is reduced when inspiratory flow (V(I)) from the ventilator exceeds patient flow demand. Patients in acute respiratory failure often have unstable breathing patterns and their requirements for V(I) may change from breath to breath. Volume control ventilation (VCV) traditionally incorporates a pre-set ventilator V(I) that remains constant even under conditions of changing patient flow demand. In contrast, pressure control ventilation (PCV) incorporates a variable decelerating flow wave form with a high ventilator V(I) as inspiration commences. We compared the effects of flow patterns on assisted WOB during VCV and PCV. METHODS: WOB was measured with a BICORE CP-100 monitor (incorporating a Campbell Diagram) in a prospective, randomized cross-over study of 18 mechanically ventilated adult patients with acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Tidal volume, inspiratory time, and mean ventilator V(I) were constant in each mode. RESULTS: At comparable levels of respiratory drive and minute ventilation, patient WOB was significantly lower with PCV than with VCV (0.59 +/- 0.42 J/L vs 0.70 +/- 0.58 J/L, respectively, p < 0.05). Ventilator peak V(I) was significantly higher with PCV than with VCV (103.2 +/- 22.8 L/min vs 43.8 L/min, respectively, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In the setting of ALI and ARDS, PCV significantly reduced patient WOB relative to VCV. The decrease in patient WOB was attributed to the higher ventilator peak V(I) of PCV.     

Effects of partial ventilatory support modalities on respiratory function in severe hypoxemic lung injury

OBJECTIVE: The early phase of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by impaired respiratory mechanics, ventilation-perfusion mismatch, and severe hypoxemia. Partial ventilatory support can effectively unload the respiratory workload and improve pulmonary gas exchange with less hemodynamic compromise. The partial ventilatory support mode most indicated in early phases of ARDS has not been determined. This study compares the effects of assisted ventilatory techniques on breathing pattern, gas exchange, hemodynamic function, and respiratory effort with those of controlled mechanical ventilation in similarly sedated subjects. DESIGN: Prospectively randomized crossover animal study. SETTING: Animal research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Eleven anesthetized and mechanically ventilated pigs. INTERVENTIONS: Acute lung injury was induced by lung lavage. Pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV), pressure-controlled assisted ventilation (P-ACV), bilevel positive airway pressure (BIPAP), and pressure support ventilation (PSV) with equal airway pressures and sedation were applied in random order. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Gas exchange, respiratory effort, and hemodynamic function were measured, and ventilation-perfusion distributions were calculated by multiple inert-gas-elimination techniques. The results revealed that partial ventilatory support was superior to PCV in maintaining adequate oxygenation and hemodynamic function with reduced sedation. The effects of P-ACV, BIPAP, and PSV were comparable with respect to gas exchange and hemodynamic function, except for a more pronounced reduction in shunt during BIPAP. P-ACV and PSV were superior to BIPAP to reduce respiratory drive and work of breathing. PSV affected the pattern of breathing and deadspace to a greater degree than did P-ACV. CONCLUSIONS: In acute lung injury, P-ACV preserves oxygenation and hemodynamic function with less respiratory effort compared with BIPAP and reduces the need for sedation compared with PCV.     

Effect of inner cannula removal on the work of breathing imposed by tracheostomy tubes: a bench study

BACKGROUND: Tracheotomy has been used to assist in weaning patients from mechanical ventilation. Some patients fail to be weaned from the ventilator despite tracheostomy. We hypothesized that removing the inner cannula from the tracheostomy tube would decrease the tube's imposed work of breathing (WOB(IMP)). METHODS: The hypothesis was tested using a lung model, by measuring the change in WOB(IMP) when the inner cannula was removed. A mechanical lung model was developed using a test lung to simulate a spontaneously breathing patient. WOB(IMP) was measured with a commercially available lung mechanics monitor. Shiley size 6, 8, and 10 nonfenestrated tracheostomy tubes were tested with the inner cannula in and out. Breathing conditions were simulated using tidal volumes (V(T)) of 300 and 500 mL matched with breathing frequencies of 12, 24, and 32 breaths per minute, by using a ventilator to simulate spontaneous breathing through one side of the test lung. RESULTS: Under all the tested breathing conditions, WOB(IMP) for each of the 3 tracheostomy tubes was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) when the inner cannula was removed. Also, as simulated spontaneous inspiratory flow demand increased (ie, as V(T) and/or frequency were increased), WOB(IMP) also increased, and vice versa. With the cannula removed, WOB(IMP) was not significantly different between the size 6 and 8 tubes nor between the size 8 and 10 tubes when V(T) was 300 mL and frequency was 12 breaths per minute. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant decrease in WOB(IMP) with each tube when the inner cannula was removed. WOB(IMP) increased with an increase in inspiratory flow demand (ie, increase in V(T) and/or frequency), as well as when tube size decreased. In weaning a tracheostomized patient from mechanical ventilation, increasing the internal diameter of the tube by removing the inner cannula may be beneficial. Further study is needed to determine if these findings are clinically important.     

Preemptive mechanical ventilation can block progressive acute lung injury

Mortality from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains unacceptable, approaching 45% in certain high-risk patient populations. Treating fulminant ARDS is currently relegated to supportive care measures only. Thus, the best treatment for ARDS may lie with preventing this syndrome from ever occurring. Clinical studies were examined to determine why ARDS has remained resistant to treatment over the past several decades. In addition, both basic science and clinical studies were examined to determine the impact that early, protective mechanical ventilation may have on preventing the development of ARDS in at-risk patients. Fulminant ARDS is highly resistant to both pharmacologic treatment and methods of mechanical ventilation. However, ARDS is a progressive disease with an early treatment window that can be exploited. In particular, protective mechanical ventilation initiated before the onset of lung injury can prevent the progression to ARDS. Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) is a novel mechanical ventilation strategy for delivering a protective breath that has been shown to block progressive acute lung injury (ALI) and prevent ALI from progressing to ARDS. ARDS mortality currently remains as high as 45% in some studies. As ARDS is a progressive disease, the key to treatment lies with preventing the disease from ever occurring while it remains subclinical. Early protective mechanical ventilation with APRV appears to offer substantial benefit in this regard and may be the prophylactic treatment of choice for preventing ARDS.