Adult respiratory distress syndrome: successful support with continuous negative extrathoracic pressure.

We describe the use of continuous negative extrathoracic pressure to treat successfully the adult respiratory distress syndrome in a 19-yr-old woman who resisted the application of positive airway pressure. Arterial hypoxemia was reversed with -26 cm H2O of extrathoracic pressure, produced by a modified Emerson iron lung. Cerebral and renal functions were maintained, and barotrauma did not occur. The patient required continuous negative extrathoracic pressure for 9 days; 12 days after admission, she was discharged. This case indicates that negative extrathoracic pressure therapy can be an effective and safe alternative to positive airway pressure for the management of selected patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome.