The purpose of this study is to assess long term (1 year) respiratory sequelae in children surviving an acute respiratory distress syndrome

The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has a high mortality rate in children. Adverse long term sequelae, and in particular respiratory sequelae, have been described mainly in adults. Decrease in diffusing capacity, lung volume and exercise tolerance were observed. Lung function parameters improve during the follow-up until 6 month after discharge from the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). After that, abnormalities in PFT are observed in a significant proportion of patients. Only two studies described long-term sequelae in children surviving to an ARDS and their results are conflicting. Two studies carried out in adults described the morphologic long-term sequelae by thoracic computed tomography. They showed reticular pattern with a striking anterior distribution in most patients evaluated more than 6 months after discharge from the PICU. There is, to our knowledge, no study describing morphologic pulmonary sequelae by thoracic computed tomography in children surviving to ARDS.

Respiratory assessment: respiratory sequelae in children surviving to the acute respiratory distress syndrome will be evaluated 1 year after discharge from the PICU. Assessment will include a clinical evaluation (respiratory history and physical examination), respiratory function tests and thoracic computed tomography

Inclusion Criteria:

• children surviving to an acute respiratory distress syndrome and alive 1 year after discharge from the PICU

Exclusion Criteria:

• children suffering from neuromuscular disease
• children presenting symptoms of chronic respiratory disease before ARDS

children hospitalised in PICU with ARDS and surviving 1 year after the acute phase