The American surgeon
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The American surgeon · Jul 1975
Adult respiratory distress syndrome in postoperative patients: study of pulmonary pathology in "shock lung" with prophylactic and therapeutic implications.
Lungs of 44 patients who died after postoperative respiratory distress and shock had a significantly higher incidence of atelectasis and thromboembolism than did 31 control patients. However, both lesions were as inconstant in occurrence as all other 15 investigated pulmonary changes. ⋯ While possibly a contributing factor, shock is not the most important cause of the pulmonary lesions in postoperative patients. The term "shock lung" should be eliminated and renewed emphasis should be placed on detection, prevention and treatment of the pathogenic mechanisms involved in each individual case.