Mechanical ventilation is the gold standard therapy in ARDS for restoring normal gas exchange, but it can exacerbate lung damage by causing ventilator-induced lung injury when improper ventilator settings are used. Existing techniques for preventing ventilatorinduced lung damage include restricting tidal volume, plateau and driving pressure, and widespread use of the prone position, all of which can improve survival. In contrast, the role Of Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) is debatable: while using low PEEP in mild-to-moderate appears prudent, there is no conclusive evidence to support higher vs lower PEEP in patients with moderate-to-severe disease.
