CT and chest radiography in the evaluation of adult respiratory distress syndrome

CT is seldom employed in adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), mostly due to problems in transporting and monitoring these severely ill patients. We reviewed the findings of 74 ARDS patients who underwent chest CT. Lung opacities were bilateral in almost all patients and dependent in most cases (86%). The opacities were patchy (42%), homogeneous (23%), ground glass (8%) or mixed (27%). Opacities prevailed in basal regions (68%) compared to hilar and apical ones. Air bronchograms were frequently seen in areas of consolidation (89%). In contrast with previous reports, pleural effusion was a frequent finding (50%) that did not worsen prognosis. Often loculated pneumothorax (32%) was mostly anteromedial. Ineffective position of thoracostomy tubes was detected at CT in 13/20 patients. Pulmonary air cysts (30%), always multiple and mostly bilateral, were associated with a higher mortality (55%) than that of the whole study group (35%). Compared to chest radiographs, CT often yielded additional information (66%), with direct influence on patient treatment in 22% of cases.