Lung Protective Strategy for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Saves Lives

Lung-protective ventilation has been shown to improve outcomes for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) but compliance is poor in the emergency department (ED). After finding that their center had poor compliance with four recommended practices (low tidal volumes, appropriate positive end-expiratory pressure [PEEP] settings, oxygen weaning, and elevating the head of the bed), investigators implemented a quality improvement intervention and measured effects on mortality and duration of invasive ventilation.

The intervention consisted of an ED ventilator protocol targeted to improving the four target areas. A training period used journal clubs, lectures, meetings, and bedside education. With a before-and-after design that m…