[Working classification of acute respiratory and cardiac insufficiency in young children with pneumonia].

Overall 302 infants with acute pneumonia were examined for gas, acid-base and electrolyte homeostasis, central and cerebral hemodynamics. In interpreting the data obtained use was made of a basically new approach to estimation of central and peripheral hemodynamics, resting on an analysis of gas, acid-base and electrolyte homeostasis, reflecting external respiratory function, blood transport system, redox processes in tissues, and so forth. Based on the data obtained the author has devised the classification of acute respiratory and heart failure as well as rapid index in order to differentiate acute heart and vascular failure in infants with acute pneumonia.