Incidence and mortality of post-lung resection lung injury over time; a meta-regression analysis

Lung injury is the major cause of early mortality in patients undergoing lung resection. A restrictive approach to fluid management and lung protective ventilatory techniques have been widely incorporated into thoracic anaesthetic practice in the belief they will prevent lung injury. We hypothesised that the incidence and mortality of ALI/ARDS following lung resection have fallen over time