ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the causes of acute respiratory distress (ARDS) after thoracotomy and to find out the measures to prevent ARDS.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The characteristics of incidence, pathogenicity and treatment of ARDS after thoracotomy in 31 patients were analysed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The patients who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, long history of smoking, hypertension were prone to ARDS. Injury to lung in operation, shock and pulmonary infection probably caused ARDS. Clearing away respiratory tract secretion, preserving of a clear airway, controlling pulmonary infection, alleviating pneumonedema by diuresis, early executing tracheotomy or mechanic assistant ventilation by tracheointubation were keys to rescuing patients successfully.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It is suggested that multi factors were related to ARDS after thoracotomy. Shock, injury to lung in operation, pulmonary infection, are important factors that lead to post-operative ARDS after thoracotomy. Early treatment can reduce mortality of ARDS.</p>