Methods are provided for protecting against ventilation-induced lung injury both directly, by lowering surface tension, and indirectly, by promoting equitable liquid distribution in pulmonary alveolar edema, in which liquid- and air-filled alveoli are normally interspersed. Since a pressure barrier is responsible for trapping liquid in discrete edematous alveoli and the magnitude of the barrier is proportional to surface tension at the air-liquid interface, the present invention provides various methods for promoting equitable redistribution of edema liquid amongst alveoli to help protect the lung during ventilation, including: i) use of an additive that lowers surface tension; ii) use of active, accelerated deflation during mechanical ventilation; and iii) high frequency (>50 Hz) vibration of the lung.