Airway pressure release ventilation reduces the increase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid high-mobility group box-1 levels and lung water in experimental acute respiratory distress syndrome induced by lung lavage.

Background And Objective: Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) may provide better alveolar recruitment at a lower peak airway pressure than conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) and, therefore, decrease the risk of barotrauma in patients with acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The present study compared the effects of APRV with low tidal volume ventilation (LTV) and CMV on the ongoing response in lung injury induced by whole lung lavage.

Methods: Lung injury was induced by whole lung lavage.