Pathogenesis
Overdistension of alveoli and cyclic atelectasis are the primary causes for alveolar injury during positive pressure mechanical ventilation. Severe injury to alveoli causes swelling of the tissues (edema) in the lungs, bleeding of the alveoli, loss of surfactant (decrease in lung compliance) and complete alveoli collapse.
Read more about this topic: Ventilator-associated Lung Injury