There were also some patients who died after 14 days in
what was termed the ‘chronic’ phase, in which the acute
inflammation was resolved but there was a predominance
of mononuclear cells, alveolar macrophages, fibroblasts,
and some evidence of fibrosis. In the post-lung-protective
ventilation era, there are fewer patients who die during
the chronic phase, and there is less evidence of the
fibrosing alveolitis than in the past, perhaps because the
severity of patients’ lung injury is no longer markedly
worsened by unfavorable high tidal volume and high
airway pressure ventilation