Effects of surfactant replacement on alveolar overdistension and plasma cytokines in ventilator-induced lung injury

Background: Overdistension of the lung causes ventilator‐induced lung injury (VILI) accompanied by surfactant abnormalities and inflammatory changes. We investigated the effects of surfactant replacement on overdistension of the terminal airspaces and plasma cytokine levels in VILI. Methods: VILI was induced by high‐pressure ventilation (HPV) in rats anesthetized with pentobarbital, followed by ventilation for 2 h in the maintenance mode (tidal...