History of Mechanical Ventilation. From Vesalius to Ventilator-induced Lung Injury

Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2015 May 15;191(10):1106-15. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201503-0421PP.

Abstract

Mechanical ventilation is a life-saving therapy that catalyzed the development of modern intensive care units. The origins of modern mechanical ventilation can be traced back about five centuries to the seminal work of Andreas Vesalius. This article is a short history of mechanical ventilation, tracing its origins over the centuries to the present day. One of the great advances in ventilatory support over the past few decades has been the development of lung-protective ventilatory strategies, based on our understanding of the iatrogenic consequences of mechanical ventilation such as ventilator-induced lung injury. These strategies have markedly improved clinical outcomes in patients with respiratory failure.

Keywords: ARDS; artificial respiration; history of medicine; iatrogenic; ventilators.

Publication types

  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Acute Lung Injury / etiology
  • Acute Lung Injury / history*
  • Acute Lung Injury / prevention & control
  • Animal Experimentation / history*
  • Animals
  • Critical Care / history
  • Critical Care / methods*
  • Critical Care / trends
  • Forecasting
  • History, 16th Century
  • History, 17th Century
  • History, 18th Century
  • History, 19th Century
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, 21st Century
  • Humans
  • Poliomyelitis / complications
  • Poliomyelitis / history
  • Poliomyelitis / therapy
  • Positive-Pressure Respiration / history
  • Positive-Pressure Respiration / methods
  • Respiration, Artificial / adverse effects
  • Respiration, Artificial / history*
  • Respiration, Artificial / instrumentation
  • Respiration, Artificial / methods
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / complications
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / history
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / therapy
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / complications
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / etiology
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / therapy*
  • Resuscitation / history*
  • Resuscitation / instrumentation
  • Resuscitation / methods
  • Tracheotomy / history
  • Tracheotomy / methods