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Review
. 2021 Oct 13;25(1):358.
doi: 10.1186/s13054-021-03778-0.

Brain-lung interactions and mechanical ventilation in patients with isolated brain injury

Mairi Ziaka  1 , Aristomenis Exadaktylos  2
Affiliations
Review

Brain-lung interactions and mechanical ventilation in patients with isolated brain injury

Mairi Ziaka et al. Crit Care. .

Abstract

During the last decade, experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that isolated acute brain injury (ABI) may cause severe dysfunction of peripheral extracranial organs and systems. Of all potential target organs and systems, the lung appears to be the most vulnerable to damage after brain injury (BI). The pathophysiology of these brain-lung interactions are complex and involve neurogenic pulmonary oedema, inflammation, neurodegeneration, neurotransmitters, immune suppression and dysfunction of the autonomic system. The systemic effects of inflammatory mediators in patients with BI create a systemic inflammatory environment that makes extracranial organs vulnerable to secondary procedures that enhance inflammation, such as mechanical ventilation (MV), surgery and infections. Indeed, previous studies have shown that in the presence of a systemic inflammatory environment, specific neurointensive care interventions-such as MV-may significantly contribute to the development of lung injury, regardless of the underlying mechanisms. Although current knowledge supports protective ventilation in patients with BI, it must be born in mind that ABI-related lung injury has distinct mechanisms that involve complex interactions between the brain and lungs. In this context, the role of extracerebral pathophysiology, especially in the lungs, has often been overlooked, as most physicians focus on intracranial injury and cerebral dysfunction. The present review aims to fill this gap by describing the pathophysiology of complications due to lung injuries in patients with a single ABI, and discusses the possible impact of MV in neurocritical care patients with normal lungs.

Keywords: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; Brain damage; Brain–lung interactions; Inflammation; Mechanical ventilation; Ventilator induced lung injury.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Major extracranial complications in patients with isolated acute brain injury. ALI, Acute Lung Injury; ARDS, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Pathophysiology of lung injury in patients with isolated acute brain injury. ALI, Acute Lung Injury; ARDS, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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