[Treatment of acute respiratory insufficiency in cardiac surgery]

An analysis of the main causes of acute respiratory insufficiency as a frequently observed and severe complication of the early postoperative period after open-heart surgery is presented. To permit differentiated employment of respiratory resuscitation measures, subcompensated and decompensated forms of acute postoperative respiratory insufficiency were distinguished on the basis of clinical and laboratory data. The most efficient methods of treatment of this complication are described, including the employment of helium, ultrasonic inhalator, therapeutic intubation, bronchoscopy, long-term automated artificial pulmonary ventilation. A combined employment of the modified methods of respiratory resuscitation permitted to improve the course of acute respiratory insufficiency and to reduce the mortality nearly three-fold.