[Non cardiogenic pulmonary edema (author's transl)].

Non cardiogenic pulmonary edema is caused by an increase of alveolocapillary permeability, due to different etiologies: fat embolism, multiple trauma, septic shock, influenza pneumonia, aspiration syndrome... Chest radiographs exhibit interstitial and/or alveolar pattern, severity of injury is assessed by the magnitude of intra-pulmonary shunting. Pulmonary wedge pressure is normal, and increased pulmonary vascular resistance is sometimes evidence in prolonged evolutions, especially in fatal cases. Treatment consists in the suppression of hypervolemia, and ventilation with positive and expiratory pressure (PEEP). Extra-corporeal membrane lung oxygenation remains since now rather unsuccessful.