[Breve reseña histórica de la primera publicación del síndrome de insuficiencia respiratoria aguda].

Acute respiratory distress syndrome was first described by Ashbaugh, Petty, Levine y Bigellow in 1967 writing in The Lancet. Their study was based on a case series of 12 patients with acute respiratory distress, cyanosis refractory to oxygen therapy, decreased lung compliance and diffuse infiltrates evident on the chest radiograph. Mortality was 58% with greater survival in five patients managed with mechanical ventilation and positive end expiratory pressure. Histopathology revealed heavy lungs, atelectasis, interstitial and alveolar edema, as well as hyaline membranes. 50 years after the publication of this article, advances in knowledge and management of this disease have been considerable, which is reflected in decreased mortality. The aim of this paper is to describe the original publication, recognize its importance and genious of its authors, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this landmark and fundamental paper in intensive care medicine and honor their authors.