Role of the neutrophil in adult respiratory distress syndrome

Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in surgical practice. Despite the continued advance of surgical technique and therapy, the mainstay of treatment of ARDS remains supportive. In the past decade cytokines have been found to be primary chemical mediators of the host response to inflammatory disease. The polymorphonuclear leucocyte has also emerged as a possible cellular mediator of the end‐organ damage that characterizes these inflammatory processes. The role of the neutrophil as the primary cellular mediator of alveolar capillary membrane injury in ARDS remains controversial. This article reviews the relevant current literature and considers the implications of the prevailing evidence on future management of this syndrome.