Non-ventilator therapy in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome

Abstract

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is one of the most severe disease in pediatric intensive care units. The purpose of this article is to introduce the Berlin′s definition of ARDS and review the current knowledge base related to non-ventilator therapy in pediatric intensive care unit, including prevention of predisposing factor, nutrition therapy, conservative fluid therapy, transfusion and transfusion related acute lung injury, etc. The article also reviews the role of pulmonary surfactant, nitric oxide, prone position and glucocorticoid in pediatric ARDS. Key words: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; Treatment; Children