This update in intensive care and emergency medicine looks at acute lung injury. Areas covered include pathophysiology and pulmonary circulation; bronchoaleolar lavage fluid and surfactant; mechanical ventilation; extra-pulmonary supportive measures; and liquid ventilation.

Epidemiology of acute lung injury, Hudson, Artigas
aetiology, Suter et al
pathophysiology and pulmonary circulation, Evans, Brunet, Vincent
bronchoaleolar lavage fluid and surfactant, Seeger, Haslet
structural alterations, Rouby
the alveolar epithelial barrier, Matthay, Schuster
mechanical ventilation, Ranieri, Marini, Dreyfuss
extra pulmonary supportive measures, Pesenti, Albert
pharmacological manipulation of V/Q in ALI/ARDS, Falke, Payen, Dellinger
liquid ventilation, Fuhrman, Hirschl
clinical trials in the next 15 years, Morris et al.