Mechanisms of acute respiratory insufficiency in patients with hyperglycemic coma

Basic parameters of pulmonary gas exchange, central and pulmonary hemodynamics, and colloid osmotic pressure were investigated in 31 patients in diabetic hyperglycemic coma over the course of intensive care. Pulmonary gas exchange disorders were observed in all patients in the presence of increased shunting of the blood in the lungs and disorders of transcapillary liquid exchange. On the other hand, we failed to obtain data indicative of an increase in the volume of extravascular water in the lungs. However, it does not rule out the possibility of iatrogenic disorders of gas exchange during noncontrolled rehydration.