Pneumonia complicating adult respiratory distress syndrome
Dever, L.L.; Johanson, W.G.
Clinics in Chest Medicine 16(1): 147-153
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0272-5231 PMID: 7768088 Document Number: 441268
Aspiration bronchopneumonia occurs in most patients undergoing prolonged mechanical ventilation. These pneumonias adversely affect lung function and release bacteria into the systemic circulation via the lungs' lymphatics. Through this mechanism, clinically occult pneumonias may initiate activation of systemic inflammation, leading to the syndrome of multiple organ failure.