[Traumatic respiratory distress syndrome on plateau: diagnosis and treatment]

Twenty-seven adult patients, living at plateau, developed acute respiratory syndrome after severe trauma or major operation, were reported. Seven of them died. The clinical pictures were also of severe air-hunger, cyanosis and hypoxemia associated with diffusive interstitial edema of lungs, while the mean values of blood gases were much less compared with those of patients on plain, being P-a O2 33 mm Hg, Sat. O2 71%, PaCO2 31 mmHg, A-aDO2 426 mm Hg. The diagnostic points of ARDS of patient on plateau have been suggested and the urgent requirement of management for these patients on plateau has been emphasized and described.