[Artificial respiration and kidney function disorder--a vicious circle?].

Acute lung disease is commonly associated with interstitial pulmonary edema and a tendency towards partial or total alveolar collapse. To counteract this tendency mechanical ventilation is successfully used in most cases. Mechanical ventilation, however, leads to a harmful retention of water and salt, which may worsen interstitial pulmonary edema and further impair gas exchange. This problem seems to be less known. A survey of the effects of currently used modes of mechanical ventilation on excretory function and hemodynamics of the kidneys is given together with a short review of the possible afferent and efferent mechanisms which mediate the renal response to mechanical ventilation. Some clinical suggestions are made to break through the vicious cycle between mechanical ventilation and kidney function.