volutraumaa

Volutrauma refers to lung injury caused by excessive tidal volumes during mechanical ventilation. When a ventilator delivers too much air to the lungs, it can overstretch the alveoli, leading to barotrauma (injury from high pressure) and inflammation. This overstretching can damage the lung tissue, increasing permeability and potentially leading to alveolar collapse or fluid accumulation. Risk factors for volutrauma include pre-existing lung conditions such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with reduced lung compliance are particularly vulnerable. Clinical signs of volutrauma can be subtle and may include worsening hypoxemia, increased airway pressures, and decreased lung compliance. Diagnosis often involves a high index of suspicion in mechanically ventilated patients, especially those with deteriorating respiratory status. Management focuses on minimizing tidal volumes. Lung-protective ventilation strategies, which use smaller tidal volumes and higher respiratory rates, are the cornerstone of preventing volutrauma. Adjusting ventilator settings to maintain plateau pressures below a safe threshold is crucial. In some cases, inverse ratio ventilation or prone positioning may be employed to improve oxygenation and reduce further lung injury.