ABSTRACT
Acute respiratory failure frequently precipitates intubation and the need for mechanical ventilation in sepsis. Tachypnea, associated with alveolar hyperventilation, is frequently seen in early sepsis. Hypoxemia is commonly observed, but may be masked by hyperventilation. Ventilation-perfusion mismatch and shunt are the usual causes of hypoxemia. Other pulmonary manifestations include respiratory muscle dysfunction and broncho-constriction. The most common cause of acute lung injury or ARDS is sepsis, with a mortality rate reported to be as high as 40-60%18. ARDS is extensively reviewed in Chapter 14.
