What Is Volutrauma

Volutrauma refers to the local overdistention of normal alveoli. Volutrauma has gained recognition over the last 2 decades and is the impetus for the lung protection ventilation with lower tidal volumes of 6–8 mL/kg. Computed tomography scans have demonstrated that ARDS has a heterogeneous pattern of lung involvement.

What causes Volutrauma?

To induce volutrauma in healthy animals requires a very high tidal volume (from 20 to 40 mL/kg). When such large tidal volumes are applied with zero end-expiatory pressure (ZEEP), lesions occur primarily in dependent lung regions where atelectasis-associated sites for stress focusing develop during expiration.

What is lung barotrauma and why is it an emergency?

Pulmonary Barotrauma Gas expanding within alveoli causes rupture of the pulmonary vasculature, and that is the presumed point of entry of air into the vascular system. As a result, local hemorrhage occurs, which may then result in hemoptysis and which, on rare occasion, can be massive and even life-threatening (Fig.