METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING EARLY SIGNS OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: medicine. SUBSTANCE: method involves examining lungs by means of computer tomography method to determine density in every slice. The examination is carried out during the first day of pathological process development at the same fixed respiration phase at the level of lower edge of sternoclavicular articulations, trachea bifurcation, right lung root middle part, right diaphragm vault. One slice is built in each of four selected levels that is divided into anterior, lateral, medial and posterior zones. Optical density is measured in each zone in one fixed point (ED1,ED2,ED3, ED4) and areas are marked with minimum (EDmin) and maximum (EDmax) interstitial tissue density in every slice with mean slice density being calculated from formula (EDmean= ED1+ED2+ED3+ED4). Difference between the maximum and minimum values in slice is calculated from formula (ΔED=Edmax- Edmin). Mean value of optical density EDmean reaching -870 - (-650) N-units and ΔED growing to 180-300 N-units in any of selected slices, I stage acute respiratory distress syndrome is considered to take place. EDmean falling to -731 - (-650) N-units and ΔED growing to 300-550 N-units in any of selected slices, II stage acute respiratory distress syndrome is considered to take place. EDmean falling below -650 N- units and ΔED growing above 550 N-units, III stage acute respiratory distress syndrome is considered to take place. EFFECT: non-invasive method for determining left ventricular function. 18 dwg, 6 tbl