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The acute respiratory distress syndrome in children: recent UMMC experience

T A Walker1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children, University of Mississippi Medical Center, USA.

Journal of the Mississippi State Medical Association
|November 24, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in children is a serious condition. This study found sepsis common, mortality 30%, and high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) potentially beneficial.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Pediatric Intensive Care

Background:

  • Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a significant cause of respiratory failure in children, often leading to high mortality rates.
  • Understanding ARDS in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To retrospectively analyze pediatric ARDS cases managed in a multidisciplinary PICU from 1994 to 1998.
  • To identify predisposing conditions, treatment outcomes, complications, therapeutic trends, and resource utilization for pediatric ARDS.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of all pediatric ARDS cases admitted to a PICU between 1994 and 1998.
  • Analysis of patient demographics, underlying causes, treatment strategies, complications, and mortality.

Main Results:

  • Twenty-seven pediatric ARDS cases were identified, constituting approximately 1% of PICU admissions.
  • Sepsis was the most frequent predisposing condition; 60% of cases experienced air leak complications.
  • The overall mortality rate was 30%, with non-respiratory causes being the most common reason for death.

Conclusions:

  • Despite a relatively low mortality rate in this cohort, pediatric ARDS presents a substantial challenge for pediatric intensivists.
  • High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) was frequently used and perceived as beneficial, potentially contributing to reduced mortality.

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