salicylates and Respiratory-Distress-Syndrome

Topics: Altitude Sickness; Central Nervous System Diseases; Dextropropoxyphene; Drowning; Ethchlorvynol; Hemodynamics; Heroin; Humans; Lung; Oxygen; Pancreatitis; Pulmonary Edema; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Respiratory Therapy; Salicylates; Smoke; Syndrome

Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Migraine Disorders; Recurrence; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Salicylates

The course of 177 consecutive patients with severe salicylate self-poisoning treated in an intensive care unit (ICU) during a period of 15 years is presented. On admission, cerebral depression was observed in 61% respiratory failure was present in 47%, acidosis in 36% and cardiovascular function was impaired in 14%. A mortality rate of 15% was observed, which was proportionally higher in patients more than 40 years old and in patients with delayed diagnosis. Twenty-seven patients died and an autopsy was performed on 26 patients. The main autopsy diagnosis was ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract in 46%, pulmonary oedema in 46%, cerebral oedema in 31% and cerebral haemorrhage in 23%.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Brain Edema; Cerebral Hemorrhage; Child; Child, Preschool; Duodenal Ulcer; Female; Humans; Infant; Intensive Care Units; Male; Middle Aged; Pulmonary Edema; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Retrospective Studies; Salicylates; Salicylic Acid; Stomach Ulcer; Suicide, Attempted

Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema induced by salicylate toxicity is becoming a well-recognized entity. However, the diagnosis can be easily missed early in the disease course. We report here adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in a 54-year-old man found to have salicylate toxicity one day after admission to the alcohol detoxification service at a community hospital. He had been taking one enteric-coated aspirin tablet twice a day for more than one year. He also had a 40 pack-year history of cigarette smoking. The list in any standard medical text of factors triggering ARDS is quite lengthy. Over the past few years, salicylate toxicity has been added to this list. As the case reported here illustrates, it is most important that salicylate toxicity be considered in the differential diagnosis for any patient with acute onset of pulmonary edema and normal cardiac function.

Topics: Aspirin; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Salicylates

Topics: Animals; Female; Intestinal Perforation; Lung; Male; Methylprednisolone; Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate; Peritonitis; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Salicylates

Topics: Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Salicylates

Topics: Acute Disease; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Salicylates

Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Salicylates

Topics: Depression, Chemical; Epoprostenol; Humans; Prostaglandins; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Salicylates