Korean J Med.  2010 Jul;79(1):1-7.

Nonventilatory medical treatments for acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute lung injury

• Sohn JW

Abstract

Over the past decade, the ventilator management for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute lung injury (ALI) have yielded improved outcomes. However, studies of the pharmacologic management of ARDS and ALI have been less effective. ARDS/ALI is a heterogeneous disease entity. Although most drug trials in ARDS or ALI have been demonstrated to be ineffective in improving outcomes, some studies suggest that targeting treatments at subgroups of patients may be beneficial. Corticosteroids have good short-term effects when given sooner than 2 weeks. Surfactant may be beneficial in direct lung injury patients. Anticoagulants may have improved outcomes in the severe patients with vascular disease. Recently, ARDS Networks reported the 'conservative fluid management strategy'. This promising fluid strategy showed beneficial effect on outcomes without serious complications. This article reviews the recent research on the Nonventilatory pharmacologic managements for patients with ARDS/ALI.

Keyword

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); Acute lung injury (ALI); Nonventilatory treatment

MeSH Terms

Acute Lung Injury
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Anticoagulants
Humans
Lung Injury
Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult
Vascular Diseases
Ventilators, Mechanical
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Anticoagulants