Journal of hospital medicine : an official publication of the Society of Hospital Medicine
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The goal of mechanical ventilation in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure is to support adequate gas exchange without harming the lungs. How patients are mechanically ventilated can significantly impact their ultimate outcomes. ⋯ Prompt recognition of ARDS and use of lung-protective ventilation, as well as evidence-based adjunctive therapies, remain the cornerstones of caring for patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. In the absence of contraindications, it is reasonable to consider lung-protective ventilation in non-ARDS patients as well, though the evidence supporting this practice is less conclusive.