What complication can arise from prolonged mechanical ventilation?

Ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) is a recognized complication that can occur as a consequence of prolonged mechanical ventilation. This condition arises mainly from the mechanical forces exerted on the lung tissue by the ventilator. When ventilation is prolonged, particularly with high tidal volumes or pressures, this can lead to barotrauma or volutrauma, which can damage the alveoli and the surrounding lung structures. The resultant injury can cause inflammation, alveolar collapse, and may ultimately worsen the existing condition that necessitated mechanical ventilation.

Understanding VILI underscores the importance of lung protective strategies in mechanical ventilation, such as using lower tidal volumes and maintaining appropriate positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) levels. Managing these parameters can significantly reduce the risk of lung injury and improve outcomes in patients requiring prolonged ventilation support.

While pneumothorax can also occur due to mechanical ventilation, particularly with high pressures, it is more commonly associated with specific lung pathologies or procedural complications rather than a direct result of prolonged mechanical ventilatory support. Similarly, while cardiac arrest and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are serious conditions, they are not direct complications of mechanical ventilation itself, although mechanical ventilation is often used to manage ARDS.