In patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who were expected not to be extubated within 24 hours of randomization, a low tidal volume strategy did not result in a greater number of ventilator-free days than an intermediate tidal volume strategy. In total, 961 patients (65% male), with a median age of 68 years (interquartile range [IQR], 59-76), were enrolled. At day 28, 475 patients in the low tidal volume group had a median of 21 ventilator-free days (IQR, 0-26), and 480 patients in the intermediate tidal volume group had a median of 21 ventilator-free days. The primary outcome was the number of ventilator-free days and alive at day 28. Among patients in the ICU receiving invasive ventilation, a strategy with low tidal volume was not more effective than a strategy using intermediate tidal volume.

Read More