Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress/Failure

Yes the ongoing quandry of pediatric respiratory distress/failure making the diagnoses without a universally accepted definition.
I am glad that there is interest in meeting in San Antonio and discussing this as a lunch topic

At our institution - Wolfson Children's Hopsital at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville Florida - I am going to propose these criteria to the hospitalists, pulmonologists and the intensivist's

Acute Respiratory Distress - need 2/3
1. Tachypnea (RR as per the accepted SIRS)criteria
2. Increased work of breathing (clinical - retractions, flaring, air hungry)
3. Hypoxia requiring supplemental oxygen to maintain adequate oxygen saturations.

Acute Respiratory Failure - need 1
1. Requirement for FiO2 > or = to 50%
2. Requirement for flow > or = to 5 liters/minute
3. Any pressure support - Bipap, CPAP, or an ETT
Sign In or Register to comment.