Acute respiratory distress syndrome in an 11-month-old girl leading to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Abstract

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a condition recognised for al­most fifty years, and is related to high morbidity and mortality in children. From its recognition, medical experts tried to make joint efforts to make recommendations and optimize treatment in children and adult population. The new definition of ARDS suggests treatment by introducing three levels of severity, according to PaO2/FiO2 and positive end-expiratory pressure. Lung-protective ventilation remains crucial in achieving better outcome in paediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS), but promising therapies based on paediatric studies include non-invasive ventilation, endotracheal surfactant, high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV), and use of ECMO as „rescue“ therapy. Nevertheless, PARDS is a real challenge for the paediatric critical care provider, and even if current state-of-the-art treatment methods are delivered, this disease often leads to fatal outcome. We report the case of an 11-month-old female infant who developed ARDS, was treated by current up-to-date treatment methods, including ECMO, and despite this, succumbed to her illness. With this case report we would like once more to bring to consideration the current knowledge on etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of ARDS in children, and emphasize the high morbidity and mortality related to this syndrome.