Acute respiratory distress syndrome in a paediatric intensive care unit.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the final outcome of a common pathway of a variety of unrelated but massive insults to the lung. It is commonly seen in adults but also occurs in the paediatric age group. A prospective study was carried out to determine the incidence, predisposing conditions, clinical course and outcome of children with ARDS admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Six patients (aged 0.8 to 11 years) who fulfilled the strict criteria for ARDS were identified prospectively during a one year study period. The incidence was 1.7% of all PICU admission. The most common underlying conditions were septicemia and pneumonia. The mortality rate was 83%. Death most often occurred during the early phase of the disease. Treatment of ARDS included elimination of the cause of ARDS, early institution of mechanical ventilation with PEEP, prompt recognition and treatment of superimposed infection and careful management of additional organ failure.