Acute respiratory distress syndrome in trauma patients: is the risk of its development determined by the number of blood transfusions or the severity of injury, blood loss and shock?

Abstract

A blunt thoracic injury is a serious basis for the development of such a dangerous complication as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ARDS more often formed against the background of significant blood loss, severe decompensated hemorrhagic shock against the background of trauma, as well as due to pulmonary contusion. Clinically, ARDS manifested by the development of severe acute respiratory failure. All patients necessarily need complex respiratory support. Many scientists studying this problem claim that the risk of developing ARDS increases with the number of blood transfusions. And these experts associate the number of blood transfusions with the risk of developing ARDS. The authors of the publication claim that hemotransfusions are a mandatory component of intensive therapy in a patient with massive blood loss and shock on the background of trauma, without which it is impossible to save the patient. Transfusion of blood and its components have an advantage over the use of plasma exchange solutions against the background of severe shock and lung damage. Therefore, it is incorrect to consider the number of hemotransfusion as an independent predictor of the development of ARDS. On the contrary, the severity of trauma, blood loss and shock determine the high risk of ARDS.