Critical care clinics
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Over the past 20 years, substantial information has been gained concerning sepsis-associated ALI. Although the mortality from ARDS remains unchanged, the spectrum of disease has altered. Patients rarely die acutely from the direct sequelae of ALI, including hypoxemia, but most commonly demonstrate a protracted clinical course that eventuates in MSOF. ⋯ Without an effective and singular "golden bullet" for the treatment of the varied presentation of ARDS, it remains our contention that basic management principles of ARDS must continue to emphasize an aggressive approach to the identification and treatment of the septic focus while all efforts are concurrently exploited to reduce the potentially aggravating effects of secondary injury on microvascular function. Currently research into the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of nosocomial pneumonia is an example of how secondary injury may be minimized in ALI. Further, it is important to recognize the potentially detrimental effects of various therapies on the microvascular membrane in ARDS.