ADULT-RESPIRATORY-DISTRESS-SYNDROME AFTER RADICAL NECK DISSECTION

The clinical management of an unusual case of postoperative ARDS is re ported. A few hours following neck surgery and septic insult, the pati ent developed unexpected ARDS. Aetiologic and supportive treatment wer e successfully instituted and after 72 hours of intensive therapy, the patient's clinical status improved. The very short time lapse between the septic insult and appearance of ARDS is emphasized. A brief liter ature review on aetiology, diagnosis and therapy of sepsis, as well as some pertinent aspects concerning the pathogenesis of ARDS and its li nkage to sepsis are presented.