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Fig. 3 | Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Fig. 3

From: Alveolar dynamics during mechanical ventilation in the healthy and injured lung

Fig. 3

Concepts of alveolar dynamics in injured lungs. a Classification of alveolar dynamics according to [115]. Alveoli which do not change in size between end expiration and end inspiration are considered stable (physiologic, type I), those which increase in size during inspiration are considered instable (pathological, type II), or may even show alveolar collapse (pathological, type III). b Classification of alveolar dynamics according to [116]. Expansion of the alveoli during inspiration is considered as normal alveolar dynamics (physiological, healthy), paradoxical motion of alveoli during both the end-inspiratory and the end-expiratory plateau phase is classified as pendelluft (pathophysiologic), no change of alveolar size during end expiration or end inspiration is classified as alveolar stunning (pathophysiologic), and a decrease of alveolar size during end inspiration is defined as inverse ventilation (pathophysiological)

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