[Mechanism and time periods of the development of hyaline membranes in acute respiratory failure of traumatic origin].

The model of chest trauma accompanied by acute respiratory failure was studied on 78 guinea-pigs. Histological and electron microscopic methods have revealed a typical pattern of shock lung: combination of diffuse bilateral microfocal distelectases and microcirculation disturbances, i.e. pulmonary venular spasm accompanied by sludge, disseminated intravascular coagulation, focal hemorrhages and interstitial edema. In 5 out of 13 cases 72 hours later hyaline membranes were observed as conglomerations of eosinophilic masses of plate form, distinct from intraalveolar edema. At the ultrastructural level hyaline membranes could be identified as stripes of granular or fibrillar accumulations containing cellular organella debris, ajacent to alveolar walls.