摘要
Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure(AHRF)is the leading cause of intensive care unit(ICU)admissions.Of patients with AHRF,40%–50%will require invasive mechanical ventilation during their stay in the ICU,and 30%–80%will meet the Berlin Criteria for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome(ARDS).Rapid identification of the underlying cause of AHRF is necessary before initiating targeted treatment.Almost 10%of patients with ARDS have no identified classic risk factors however,and the precise cause of AHRF may not be identified in up to 15%of patients,particularly in cases of immunosuppression.In these patients,a multidisciplinary,comprehensive,and hierarchical diagnostic work-up is mandatory,including a detailed history and physical examination,chest computed tomography,extensive microbiological investigations,bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytological analysis,immunological tests,and investigation of the possible involvement of pneumotoxic drugs.
