Thirty years of clinical trials in acute respiratory distress syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically review clinical trials in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).


METHODS
Computerized bibliographic search of published research and citation review of relevant articles.


METHODS
All clinical trials of therapies for ARDS were reviewed. Therapies that have been compared in prospective, randomized trials were the focus of this analysis.


METHODS
Data on population, interventions, and outcomes were obtained by review. Studies were graded for quality of scientific evidence.


RESULTS
Lung protective ventilator strategy is supported by improved outcome in a single large, prospective trial and a second smaller trial. Other therapies for ARDS, including noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, inverse ratio ventilation, fluid restriction, inhaled nitric oxide, almitrine, prostacyclin, liquid ventilation, surfactant, and immune-modulating therapies, cannot be recommended at this time. Results of small trials using corticosteroids in late ARDS support the need for confirmatory large clinical trials.


CONCLUSIONS
Lung protective ventilator strategy is the first therapy found to improve outcome in ARDS. Trials of prone ventilation and fluid restriction in ARDS and corticosteroids in late ARDS support the need for large, prospective, randomized trials.
McIntyre
R C
RC
Department of Pediatric Surgery, The Children's Hospital, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, USA.
Pulido
E J
EJ
Bensard
D D
DD
Shames
B D
BD
Abraham
E
E
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome