A 66-year-old man with severe ARDS has been commenced on a 48-hour cisatracurium infusion. His ventilator settings are TV 6 mL/kg IBW, PEEP 16 cmH2O, FiO2 0.7, RR 26/min. Plateau pressure is 27 cmH2O. What is the primary mechanism by which neuromuscular blockade improves outcomes in severe ARDS?