Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is one of the emblematic pathologies of intensive care, not only because of its frequency and severity, but also because only mechanical ventilation can save the patient suffering from it. Numerous studies highlighting significant advances in this field have been published in recent years. An updated review was therefore essential. The authors, all deeply involved in advancing the management of patients with ARDS, contribute to this work.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is one of the emblematic pathologies of intensive care, not only because of its frequency and severity, but also because mechanical ventilation is the only way to save the patient suffering from it. Numerous studies highlighting significant advances in this field have been published in recent years. An updated overview was therefore essential. The authors, all deeply involved in improving the management of patients with ARDS, had to demonstrate both rigor in their comprehensiveness and a talent for synthesis. This book devotes considerable space to mechanical ventilation, particularly its optimization and the benefits of its various forms, such as non-invasive ventilation and high-frequency oscillation. It also addresses, in a practical manner, what imaging and the study of respiratory mechanics can offer to the clinician or the ICU resident. The issues of pulmonary superinfection, sedation management, and hydration are also reviewed. Finally, this work has the merit of being exhaustive by extensively addressing the issue of post-aggressive fibrosis and discussing the main therapeutic perspectives.
