Although acute respiratory acidosis may be a sign of impending respiratory failure in spontaneously breathing patients, it is commonly encountered in intubated patients with acute lung injury (ALI). This is especially the case now that limiting tidal volumes and airway pressures have been proven to reduce mortality in ALI, presumably by reducing additional lung injury caused by mechanical venti...

The clinical course is described of an infant who accidentally received an adult dose of Syntometrine (synthetic oxytocin + ergometrine) at delivery. The infant soon became ill with convulsions and ventilatory failure, and later with water intoxication. Similar reported cases are reviewed and recommendations are given for the management of future cases.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome is characterized by a diffuse inflammatory reaction of lung parenchyma induced by a direct insult to the alveolar epithelium (pulmonary acute respiratory distress syndrome) or an indirect lesion through the vascular endothelium (extrapulmonary acute respiratory distress syndrome). The main therapeutic strategy for acute respiratory distress syndrome is the ve...

BACKGROUND Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is being increasingly used in children with acute respiratory failure, preventing complications associated with conventional mecánical ventilation. AIMS To determinate the efficacy of NIV in children with acute respiratory failure or chronic respiratory failure. METHODS Prospective study of all patients who underwent NIV (November 2005 to April 2008...