[Acute respiratory distress syndrome in infants at term and near term about 23 cases].

Aim: to precise the incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome in infants at term and near term and the clinical characteristics of this disease not yet well recognised.

Methods: Retrospective study of the medical records of infants admitted in the paediatric intensive care unit for ARDS along a period of 4 years. Diagnosis of ARDS was based on the following criterias: (1) Gestational age > or =35 weeks of gestation; (2) Severe and immediate respiratory distress requiring mechanical ventilation with PEEP > or =4 cmH2O and FiO2 > or = 0.