Figure 5.

Permeability of the blood-gas barrier (ratio of fluorescent label in BALF versus serum) for three different sized dextran molecules following intravenous injection in mice. Control animals were not subjected to mechanical ventilation and ventilated animals received pressure-controlled ventilation with an end-inspiratory plateau pressure of 37.5 cmH₂O. The ZEEP/Short group was ventilated with zero end-expiratory pressure for approximately 30 min. The ZEEP/Mid group was ventilated with zero PEEP for approximately 60 min. The PEEP3 group was ventilated with a positive end-expiratory pressure of 3 cmH₂O for approximately 120 min. The ZEEP/2xH group was ventilated with zero PEEP until lung stiffness (H) had risen to twice its baseline value. Used with permission from Hamlington et al. (92).