Table 3.

Key messages of this review

Variable mechanical ventilation
Benefits
Improved gas exchange (experimental evidence(9,11-15,17,18,20-22,24,25,28-31) and clinical evidence(32))
Improved respiratory mechanics (experimental evidence(9,11,13-15,18,19,22,24-26,30) and clinical evidence(32))
Improved the ventilation-to-perfusion ratio (experimental evidence(13,15,18,22,25,28,29,35))
Released surfactant (experimental evidence(17))
Reduced the inflammatory response (experimental evidence(15,17,24) and clinical evidence(34))
Reduced lung injury (experimental evidence(11,17,22))
Improved patient-ventilator synchrony (clinical evidence(33))
Knowledge gaps
Clinical studies that use randomized controlled clinical trials in different clinical settings, including patients with and without acute pulmonary impairment