A Protective Kidney-Lung Approach to Improve Outcomes in Mechanically Ventilated Patients.

There is increasing evidence that deleterious interactions between the lung and the kidney may be partly responsible for the multiorgan failure and high mortality seen in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Lung protective strategies can reduce many of the adverse mechanistic and biological effects of mechanical ventilation. However, the key modifiable mediators are yet to be defined for the titration of balance between protective ventilation settings and distant organ function. Disparate but complementary mechanisms that may be involved in acute lung-kidney interactions will be discussed. A kidney-lung protective strategy in patients on mechanical ventilation is a potential approach that should be exploited to improve outcomes in critically ill patients. Video Journal Club 'Cappuccino with Claudio Ronco' at http://www.karger.com/?doi=448471.