Acute Lung Injury: Pathophysiology, Prevention and Treatment

Book excerpt: Acute lung injury (ALI) is a form of acute respiratory failure that causes disruption of epithelial and endothelial barriers in the lungs. The severe form of acute lung injury manifests as adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Some common symptoms of acute lung injury are severe dyspnoea, tachypnoea, and resistant hypoxaemia, bowel perforation, and sepsis syndrome. Appropriate diagnostic tests such as blood or urine cultures, and bronchoalveolar lavage are performed for examining a patient for underlying conditions, particularly pneumonia, sepsis, pancreatitis or transfusion related lung injury. Treatment strategy for acute lung injury consists of treatment of the underlying disease, mechanical ventilation for elimination of carbon dioxide and securing oxygenation, and adjunctive procedures for treating specific pulmonary pathologies. This book outlines the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of acute lung injury in detail. A number of latest researches have been included to keep the readers up-to-date with the global concepts in this area of medicine. Students, researchers, experts and all associated with the study of this medical condition will benefit alike from this book.