Work

Acute Lung Failure

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: Lung failure is the most common organ failure seen in the intensive care unit. The pathogenesis of acute respiratory failure (ARF) can be classified as (1) neuromuscular in origin, (2) secondary to acute and chronic obstructive airway diseases, (3) alveolar processes such as cardiogenic and noncardiogenic pulmonary edema and pneumonia, and (4) vascular diseases such as acute or chronic pulmonary embolism. This article reviews the more common causes of ARF from each group, including the pathological mechanisms and the principles of critical care management, focusing on the supportive, specific, and adjunctive therapies for each condition. KEYWORDS Respiratory failure - acute lung injury - asthma - pulmonary edema - pulmonary embolism - myasthenia gravis - Guillain-Barré syndrome - emphysema - bronchitis - pneumonia - acute respiratory distress syndrome

Source: Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1287870

Authors: Rob Sweeney, Daniel McAuley, Michael Matthay

Institutions: Queen's University Belfast, Royal Victoria Hospital, University of California, San Francisco

Language: English

Topic: Respiratory Support and Mechanisms

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Public Health Agency, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute