Successful treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome with prolonged continuous positive-pressure ventilation.
A 37 year-old man was admitted in severe acute respiratory failure after a surgical procedure. He was ventilated mechanically (FIO2 - 0.60), and had a Pa,O2 of 34 mmHg. Continuous positive-pressure ventilation was started and the Pa,O2 rose to 74 mmHg. This procedure was required for 18 days. During the period of the greater derangement of gas exchange, the venous admixture on inhalation of 40% oxygen was 80% and later 43%, whereas on inhalation of 100% oxygen it was 52% and later 35%. He was weaned from the respirator on the nineteenth day. If unevennes of ventilation--perfusion due to regional hypoventilation disappear on inhalation of 40% oxygen, a decrease of shunt on inhalation of 100% oxygen suggests impairment of diffusion.
D000208:Acute Disease; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000379:methods*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors