title: The changing pattern of post-traumatic respiratory distress syndrome.
abstract: During a one year period, 78 patients at the Denver General Hospital required mechanical ventilation following injury. Thirteen patients were judged to have Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Of these, 9 had classic early onset RDS but, with intravenous fluid restriction following resuscitation, diuretics and careful mechanical ventilation, all recovered. Six patients, all of whom were septic, developed late onset RDS 5 or more days after injury; 5 died. Disparity between early and late onset of RDS is emphasized; the one with good, the other with dismal prognosis. The current need is to improve treatment of late onset RDS, which frequently is associated with bacterial infection.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications; D005121:Extremities / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010107:Oxygenators, Membrane; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications*