title: [Acute respiratory distress syndrome in children].
abstract: The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) encountered in a child may be either due to a primary lung infection or may be secondary to a systemic inflammatory response of varying origin. Therapy is based on: 1) the mechanical ventilation strategy aimed at maintaining the functional residual capacity by alveolar recruitment using positive end expiratory pressure and to limit secondary pulmonary lesions by using small tidal volumes, 2) prone positioning as soon as sufficient stability is achieved; 3) optimizing tissue oxygen delivery by cardiac support; 4) correction of any other organ dysfunction. If this conventional approach is not sufficient experimental therapies may be tempted given the vital risk. For instance inhaled nitric oxide and high frequency oscillation ventilation may be a valuable support. Newer techniques, such as partial liquid ventilation, are being developed and could become useful therapeutic options. After the acute phase a close medical follow-up is mandatory. Because of the possibility of a chronic respiratory insufficiency with negative consequences on the right ventricular function, these patients may need long term oxygen therapy and diuretics. Cardiac echography helps orientation in maintaining or discontinuing this long term therapy by estimating the arterial pulmonary pressure.
authors.affiliation: Département médico-chirurgical de pédiatrie (Prof S. Fanconi), CHUV, Lausanne.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stucki
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scalfaro
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Parret
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wassenberg
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Krähenbühl
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Curchod
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Bernardo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Llor
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cotting
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy