<qa>  What causes systemic inflammation?Acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. A significant proportion of affected patients will have the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ARDS. Mechanical ventilation is often required to provide adequate gas exchange and although it is life-saving in this setting, it is also now known to contribute to the morbidity and mortality in the condition. Ventilators delivering high pressures and volumes cause regional over distension in the injured lung resulting in further inflammation and non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. The release of inflammatory mediators from the damaged lung causes systemic inflammation leading to multi-organ failure and death. 