Abstract
The exact mechanism of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has not been elucidated, although there is ample evidence for the involvement of recurrent aspiration in the development of ARDS. This study aimed to know the distribution of chronic aspiration which may be involved in childhood acute lung injury.
We analyzed the incidence, the mortality and the etiology of ARDS in our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). There were 15 ARDS patients of 570 cases who were admitted to our PICU. Chronic aspiration was suspected to be the primarily involved in 3 cases of ARDS. In these cases, the classical risk factors of ARDS were not present and mild respiratory infection triggered the development of ARDS. Establishment of a long-term treatment plan is needed in childhood ARDS with chronic aspiration because of the possible recurrence of ARDS.
