Viral Pneumonia Influenza A (H1N1) Complicated by Acute Viral Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Objective: to study the clinical and morphological features of viral А (НШ1) pneumonia with the development of severe respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Materials and methods. Data were collected on 11 deaths in patients with severe influenza A (H1N1) who had been treated at the intensive care units of various city hospitals. Results. The clinical features and major X-ray manifestations of the pneumonia and respiratory mechanical changes were described and the results of postmortem studies in patients whose disease course had been complicated by significant respiratory failure and ARDS were presented. Conclusion. Rapid development of severe respiratory failure and ARDS, which determine high mortality rates, also in patients without evident comorbidity is one of the specific features of the course of primary viral A (H1N1) pneumonia. The study of X-ray diagnostic and postmortem findings seems to enhance the understanding of the mechanisms of lung lesion in viral pneumonia. The specificity of acute lung pneumonia lesion in California influenza makes certain corrections into the tactics of respiratory support. Key words: intensive care, influenza A (H1N1), acute respiratory distress syndrome, respiratory support, histology, computed tomography.