[Hemofiltration in the adult respiratory distress syndrome in patients with diffuse suppurative peritonitis]

Hemofiltration (HF) potentials are presented in complex treatment of 12 patients with disseminated suppurative peritonitis in the phase of polyorgan failure with signs of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). It has been shown that HF reduces the amount of extravascular fluid in the lungs, increases right-to-left pulmonary shunt, eliminates mediators causing higher permeability of pulmonary vessels, and other medium-molecular toxins. Death was recorded in 6 out of 12 patients. In 3 of the dead patients HF had an obvious positive effect, and death was caused by acute hepatorenal failure. Thus, HF seems promising for the treatment of ARDS in patients with peritonitis.