[Data processing system for patients requiring artificial ventilation (author's transl)].

In the surgical intensive care unit of the Mannheim medical Centre a computer program has been developed to assist in the management of patients suffering from ARDS. It is based on a Dietz MUL-TI-USER system. 34 parameters of pulmonary mechanics, hemodynamics and blood gases were recorded off-line routinely. From these data 8 parameters were calculated according to established physiological relationships. Apart fom normal data printout a terminal scope offers graphical display of the interaction of any two parameters chosen. Data may be averaged regarding single patients, groups of patients or time. Data may be stored as hard copies. Operating instructions are very simple. Off-line data feeding is of advantage regarding data allocation, Calibration and plausibility control. We report on the development of the off-line computer system and on clinical efficiency and accuracy of the system in the treatment of patients in respiratory distress.