Low Tidal Volumes for All?

The author reflects on the improvement of quality of care in medicine with special focus on the lung-protective ventilation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). It informs that the merits of lowering tidal volumes in spontaneously breathing patients have moderate to severe ARDS. It suggests that the intensive care unit's (ICU) ventilator should be set to a target tidal volume of 6 to 8 milliliter per kilogram in most patients receiving mechanical ventilation.