| Popis: |
Our aim was to analyze, in a retrospective study, changes in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) within the same pediatric intensive care unit by using the same diagnostic criteria as published in 1982.Fifteen patients (mean age 5.1 years, range 16 days-15 years) admitted between 1988 and 1994 fulfilling our former criteria for ARDS were included in the study.The incidence of ARDS after the age of 7 days was 0.45% of all admissions between the age of 1 week and 16 years vs 1.79% in the former series of patients (p0.001). Thus, the yearly rate of ARDS decreased from 5.7 to 2.1 cases per year. Six patients suffered a chronic underlying disease vs none in 1982 (p0.01). Triggering of ARDS by infection/inflammation was present in 14/15 patients vs 7/20 in the first series (p0.001). Except for the nadir PaO2/FiO2 ratio (54 mmHg vs 97 mmHg, p0.01), and duration of FiO2or = 0.5 (204 h vs 39 h, p0.01) there was no statistically significant difference with regard to respiratory data. Incidence of multiple organ/system failure and numbers of failing organs/systems remained unchanged. Eight of 15 patients died in the actual series vs 8/20 in 1982 (not significant).Compared to our former data, the incidence of ARDS has decreased. Although the number of patients with severe chronic disease has increased, mortality remains statistically unchanged. Infection/inflammation is currently the predominant event triggering ARDS. Judging by the PaO2/FiO2 ratio and duration of FiO2or = 0.5, pulmonary involvement is more severe. The number of failing organs/systems remains nearly twice as frequent in non-survivors compared to survivors. |
