Title: Surface tension and ventilation induced lung injury 

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER, 4, 2021 11:00AM-11:50AM

Abstract: Our group is investigating the effect of surface tension on ventilation induced lung injury (VILIL) and a newly identified pharmacologic therapy for lowering surface tension and reducing VILI. In the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), inflammation increases vascular permeability. Plasma leaks into the alveoli, causing edema and impairing gas exchange. Treatment with mechanical ventilation supports gas exchange but often causes an additional over-distension injury of the lungs – VILI – that can prevent recovery. The mortality rate for ARDS/VILI exceeds 35%. We study the micromechanics of flooded alveoli. We identified anatomical sites of stress concentration that are likely sites of VILI. We showed that the degree of stress concentration is proportional to surface tension at the air-liquid interface. Subsequently, we developed the first means of determining surface tension in flooded alveoli in situ in the lungs. With this new method, we identified a compound that, through a novel mechanism, lowers surface tension in the lungs. We are testing the compound for the ability to reduce VILI and improve survival in ARDS.