Research progress in perioperative ventilator-induced lung injury.

Lung-protective ventilation (such as low tidal volume and application of positive end-expiratory pressure) is beneficial for patients with acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and has become the standard treatment in intensive care unit (ICU). However, some experts now question whether the protective ventilation strategy for ARDS patients in the ICU is equally beneficial for patients after surgery, especially for most patients without any pre-existing lung lesions. This review will discuss preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative lung protection strategies to reduce the risk of complications associated with anesthesia.