Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Part 1 Clinical aspects: the adult respiratory distress syndrome - aetiology, progression and survival; acute respiratory failure in severe haematological disorders; pulmonary infection in adult respiratory distress syndrome. Part 2 Morphology: lung vessels in health and disease; damage to alveolar septa and pulmonary microvasulature in adult respiratory distress syndrome; pulmonary vascular changes in adult respiratory distress syndrome; morphological and radiological correlations in adult respiratory distress syndrome. Part 3 Pathophysiology: platelets and acute lung injury; intravascular coagulation in the adult respiratory distress syndrome; arachidonic acid and cyclo-oxygenase metabolism in acute lung injury; role of oxygen radicals in acute lung injury; mechanisms of oxidant lung injury; possible role of proteases in adult respiratory distress syndrome; pancreatic enzymes in adult respiratory distress syndrome - markers or mediators? Part 4 Lung water content and capillary circulation: pulmonary, water and solute transport - current concepts; interstitial space and pulmonary oedema; pathophysiology of pulmonary oedema - role of colloid osmotic pressure; extravascular lung water measurements. Part 5 Pulmonary circulation and cardiac function: pulmonary circulation - pressure, flow and vascular resistance; hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction; pulmonary circulation in the adult respiratory distress syndrome; pulmonary angiography in acute respiratory failure; the effect of pulmonary hypertension on right ventricular function in acute lung injury syndrome; cardiopulmonary interactions in adult respiratory distress syndrome; haemodynamic consequences of acute respiratory failure in the presence of coronary artery disease. Part 6 Pulmonary function: cariovascular and pulmonary function in early phases of adult respiratory distress syndrome; hypoxemia in the adult respiratory distress syndrome; ventilation-perfusion inequality in acute respiratory failure; influence of tidal breathing on excretion and retention; study of gas exchange as a prognostic factor in adult respiratory distress syndrome; closing volume in acute respiratory failure; the lung-pressure volume relationship during mechanical ventilation. Part 7 Mechanical ventilation. Part 8 Therapy. Part contents.