Elastic power but not driving power is the key promoter of ventilator-induced lung injury in experimental acute respiratory distress syndrome.

In this mild-moderate ARDS model, dynamic power, not driving power alone, emerged as the key promoter of VILI. Moreover, hazards from driving power were conditioned by the requirement to pass a tidal stress threshold. When estimating VILI hazard from repeated mechanical strains, PEEP must not be disregarded as a major target for modification.