title: [Pathogenicity and treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome after thoracotomy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the causes of acute respiratory distress (ARDS) after thoracotomy and to find out the measures to prevent ARDS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The characteristics of incidence, pathogenicity and treatment of ARDS after thoracotomy in 31 patients were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, long history of smoking, hypertension were prone to ARDS. Injury to lung in operation, shock and pulmonary infection probably caused ARDS. Clearing away respiratory tract secretion, preserving of a clear airway, controlling pulmonary infection, alleviating pneumonedema by diuresis, early executing tracheotomy or mechanic assistant ventilation by tracheointubation were keys to rescuing patients successfully.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is suggested that multi factors were related to ARDS after thoracotomy. Shock, injury to lung in operation, pulmonary infection, are important factors that lead to post-operative ARDS after thoracotomy. Early treatment can reduce mortality of ARDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonology Hospital, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jia-an
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Guang-ya
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Zheng-he
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*