Late pulmonary function in survivors of adult respiratory distress syndrome.

Early recognition and improvements in treatment have brought an appreciable decline in mortality from the adult respiratory distress syndrome. Physiologic changes during the acute illness include restriction of lung volumes and a defect in gas transfer. Until recently, pulmonary function of long-term survivors has not been discussed. This report concerns the pulmonary function of two patients studied 19 and 22 months, respectively, after surviving an episode. No residual changes in lung volume or compliance were found. A mild decrease in diffusing capacity was noted, and alveolar-arterial oxygen gradients were at the upper limit of normal in both.