The evidence provided in support of heart-centered instigation of lung injury after abrupt deflation seems both comprehensive and persuasive. Rats ventilated with a similar and unchanging VT at ZEEP, and those that sevidence provided in support of heart-centered instigation of lung injury after abrupt deflation seems both comprehensive and persuasive. Rats ventilated with a similar and unchanging VT at ZEEP, and those that returned more gradually from the same high PEEP to ZEEP did not encounter such problems, nor did those in whom systemic vascular resistance was modified by nitroprussiderned more gradually from the same high PEEP to ZEEP did not encounter such problems, nor did those in whom systemic vascular resistance was modified by nitroprusside