Safety and Efficacy of Repetitive High-Pressure Alveolar Recruitment Maneuvers in the Management of Critically-Ill Patients with Acute Respiraroty Distress Syndrome

Abstract

The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common clinical disorder characterized by injury to the alveolar epithelial and endothelial barriers of the lung, acute inflammation and protein rich edema leading to acute respiratory failure. An accurate estimation of the incidence of acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome has been hindered by the lack of uniform definition and the heterogeneity of the causes and clinical manifestations.