Adult respiratory distress syndrome in obstetrics

Despite the advances in medical technologies, ARDS is highly lethal. In the management of patients with ARDS, certain clinical conditions are common predisposing factors to the development of the syndrome. Infection, sepsis syndrome, and conditions requiring massive transfusion are the most common causes in patients initially managed by obstetricians and gynecologist. Early recognition of ARDS with timely consultation is of paramount importance in these patients. Early in the course of the illness, the patient should be placed in an intensive care unit. Physicians with experience in the altered pulmonary physiology should be included in the team, as well as infectious disease and renal consultants, as the situation demands. Due to the overall relative youth of our obstetric and gynecologic patients and their lack of other underlying diseases, they should do better than most patients with ARDS. However, at least 50% of all patients succumb to the disease itself or to complications inherent in the care needed. Families and treating physicians should be apprised of this early in the course.