During the past five years (1979. 1-1983. 12), 2527 patients were admitted and 871 (34.5%) patients were received mechanical ventilation more than 24 hours. Out of 827 patients, 76 were treated as ARDS by means of PEEP. A total of 13 (17.1%) of the 76 ARDS were saved, and 10 (31.2%) of 32 were saved within the past two years.
The patients of ARDS were complicated by pulmonary barotrauma in nine patients, 2 (22.2%) of whom were servived. The mean PEEP value at the highest PEEP in their course was 18.7±3.7 (SD) cmH
2O.
Under this condition, the mean value of Minute volume (MV), F
1O
2, PaO
2 and PaCO
2 were 15.5±3.5l/min, 0.88±0.11, 64.3±12.6torr and 44.3±5.8torr, respectively. The onset of pulmonary barotrauma was 17.6±8.2 days after their admissions.
In cases of pulmonary barotrauma following ARDS, air-way pressure is increased due to low lung compliance and condition of PEEP-pressure.
Therefore this condition requires the prolonged use of thoracotomy tubes. Thoracotomy tubes in two survivals had to be remained for 24-73 days, and they could remove due to relief of original disease.
The increase in the servival rate for ARDS in our facilities in recent two years made two survivers of barotrauma following ARDS.
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