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Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2000; 21(3): 223-232
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-9848
Copyright © 2000 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 760-0888

Pharmacologic Adjuncts During Mechanical Ventilation

Loretta G. Que, Yuh-Chin Tony Huang
  • Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
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Publication History

Publication Date:
03 March 2004 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Despite recent advances in technology, the mortality rate for patients suffering from adult respiratory distress syndrome remains in the range of 40-50%. This high mortality rate may be in part related to complications from ventilator management, such as ventilator-induced lung injury. In these patients, adjunct therapies aiming at ameliorating ventilator-induced lung injury are being developed. This article discusses the rationale for use of pharmacologic adjunct therapies, including inhaled nitric oxide, surfactant replacement therapy, antioxidants, prostaglandins, and corticosteroids, in patients with acute lung injury, and reviews the effectiveness of these agents in human clinical trials to date.

KEYWORD

Antioxidants - corticosteroids - nitric oxide - prostaglandins - surfactant