Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common and devastating condition which can affect all adult patients eg, medical, surgical and obstetric patients. It occurs when non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema (secondary to acute damage to the alveoli) leads to acute respiratory failure. Although the terms ARDS and ALI are used interchangeably, the American-European Consensus Conference Commit...

The adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) represents a common denominator of acute lung injury leading to alveolar flooding, decreased lung compliance, and altered gas transport. In the absence of specific etiology and therapy, the management of ARDS remains largely supportive. Ubiquitous use of intermittent positive-pressure ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) improve...

Current Opinion in Critical Care 2008, 14:11–15 Purpose of review The mechanisms of epithelial injury in acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome have been of interest since the syndrome was first described. Cell therapies to replace injured epithelium are a futuristic dream; however, there is ongoing research to achieve this goal. We review research regarding the function of the e...

In 1960 Wilson and Mikity described a new form of respiratory disease in seven premature infants. In these infants the disease developed insidiously a few days or a few weeks after birth and was characterized by marked cyanosis, tachypnoea, exertional dyspnoea, wheezing, and coughing. All patients showed distinctive radiological changes. Clinical recovery always preceded resolution of the radio...