Articles That May Change Your Practice: Inhaled Epoprostenol

Abstract

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a devastating syndrome that affects both adults and children. It is characterized by an inflammatory process that causes extensive alveolar damage, alveolar capillary leakage, and pulmonary edema, leading to disturbances in gas exchange and hypoxemia. ARDS is a complication of either direct or indirect lung injury, with a mortality rate between 40% and 50%. Survivors tend to be young or those without comorbid illness; many have long-term abnormalities in pulmonary function and an impaired quality of life. Russell D. MacDonald, MD, MPH, FCFP, FRCPC, is the medical director at Ornge Transport Medicine; medical director at Toronto Paramedic Services; an associate professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto; and an attending staff member at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He can be reached at[email protected]