[Acute respiratory distress syndrome: a review of the Berlin definition]. / Síndrome de distrés respiratorio agudo: revisión a propósito de la definición de Berlín.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is due to many causes. The absence of a universal definition up until now has led to a series of practical problems for a definitive diagnosis. The incidences of ARDS and Acute Lung Injury (ALI) vary widely in the current literature. The American-European Consensus Conference definition has been applied since its publication in 1994 and has helped to improve knowledge about ARDS. However, 18 years later, in 2011, the European Intensive Medicine Society, requested a team of international experts to meet in Berlin to review the ARDS definition. The purpose of the Berlin definition is not to use it as a prognostic tool, but to improve coherence between research and clinical practice.

[Perioperative fluid therapy]. / Fluidoterapia perioperatoria.

Physiologic balance between fluids and electrolytes should remain stable during the perioperative period. Gaps in our understanding of how this balance is maintained has given rise to inappropriate management practices. Both failure to replace lost fluids and the infusion of excessive amounts can lead to serious consequences for the patient. There is currently renewed interest in studying the best use of fluids and/or blood products during and after surgery. This update of perioperative fluid therapy is based on a review of indexed literature retrieved by means of a PubMed search for the period of January 1999 through December 2009.