Aerosolized prostacyclin in acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by Chlamydiaceae spp. pneumonia

Abstract

Management of respiratory failure in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) typically requires ventilatory assistance. If traditional approaches to mechanical ventilation and adjunctive measures fail to succeed in achieving adequate oxygenation, alternative measures should be considered. We describe an ARDS patient with respiratory failure caused by a severe Chlamydiaceae species community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Aerosolized prostacyclin (PGI2) treatment was successfully instituted for refractory hypoxemia.