Mechanical ventilation safe for pigs, and people?

Protti et al ventilated 29 healthy pigs for 2 days, each at a point on a range of "strain" (tidal volume divided by functional residual capacity). Ventilator-induced lung injury only occurred at strains 1.5-2 or greater (tidal volumes in the >30 mL/kg range). Although pigs' lungs are inherently different than ours, authors make the argument that mechanical ventilation at usual volumes is probably safe for people's healthy lungs too. AJRCCM 2011;183:1354-1362.