Journal of thoracic imaging
-
ARDS is well recognized as a major medical emergency resulting in respiratory failure and refractory hypoxemia. The risk factors and attack rate of ARDS have been identified and principles of management established. ⋯ Certain roentgenographic features can be identified in both acute and late phases of ARDS. The prognosis of survivors is favorable in the long term.
-
Ten patients with full-blown ARDS, on mechanical ventilation with PEEP underwent lung CT. Seven normal subjects were also studied. ⋯ Assuming that the three levels were a representative sample of the whole lung, the lung weight was computed from the mean CT number and lung gas volume. Analysis of the CT number frequency distribution revealed three definite patterns of distribution: type 1, bimodal, with one mode in the normal CT number range; type 2, unimodal narrow distribution, with the mode in the CT range of water; and type 3, unimodal broad distribution in the abnormal CT number range.