Chest
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Are low tidal volumes safe?
High airway pressure may be injurious to lung parenchyma, but lowering airway pressure using conventional mechanical ventilation necessitates lowering tidal volume (VT). Intubated patients in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) were randomly assigned to group 1 (VT = 12 ml/kg, n = 56) or group 2 (VT = 6 ml/kg, n = 47). ⋯ The use of low VT was associated with a statistically significant but clinically irrelevant decrease in oxygenation. The routine use of low VT appeared to be safe in a selected population of patients in the SICU.