[Therapy of adult respiratory distress syndrome]

After a brief review of the pertaining literature, 10 patients treated for adult respiratory distress syndrome between 1974 and 1978 are reported. Eight patients died; in 4 cases the cause of death was some other irreversible lesion. Respirator treatment with the Bird-8 apparatus was supplemented with cardiac diuretic and antibiotic therapy. Improvement of the results can be hoped partly from prevention, partly from the early diagnosis of ARDS and its adequate treatment.