[Respiratory distress syndrome in necrotizing fasciitis of the hand].

A case is reported of acute respiratory distress syndrome occurring during septic shock complicating necrotizing fasciitis of the hand. It is emphasized that, although this kind of evolution is largely unknown, it is logical for this complicated infective pathology. As the presence of septic shock contraindicated the use of positive end-expiratory pressure, the evolution of the respiratory failure could only be of a fulminating nature, and the patient died.