Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Post Traumatic Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in the Emergency and Critical Care Units of the Douala General Hospital Cameroon

Received: 14 December 2025     Accepted: 26 December 2025     Published: 23 January 2026
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Abstract

Introduction: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a severe, life-threatening complication of major traumatic injury, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality in emergency and critical care settings globally. Data on the specific clinical profile and outcomes in Sub-Saharan African trauma centers are scarce. Objective: The Objective was to describe the epidemiology, clinical profile, severity of injury (Injury Severity Score, ISS), surgical management, and therapeutic outcomes of post-traumatic ARDS among adult trauma patients managed at the Emergency and Critical Care Unit (ECCU) of Douala General Hospital (DGH). Materials and methods: the method was a retrospective observational study was conducted over a 24 months period (January 2022 to December 2024) at DGH, including 68 consecutive adult trauma patients who developed ARDS based on the Berlin criteria. Data collected included demographics, mechanism of injury, ISS, associated injuries (especially Thoracic Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury [TBI]), ASA physical status, intra-operative events, ARDS severity, and final outcomes (survival vs. death). Results: The mean age was 39.8±14.7 years, with a male predominance (79.4%). Severe trauma (ISS ≥25) accounted for 79.4% of the cohort, with a mean ISS of 31.6±11.2. The most frequent injuries were Thoracic Trauma (50.0%) and Long Bone Fractures (42.6%). Early complications included shock (44.1%) and massive hemorrhage (36.8%). Urgent surgeries were performed in 67.6% of operative cases. ARDS onset occurred at a median of 2.8 days post-injury. The overall in-hospital mortality was 32.4%. Independent predictors of mortality included ISS≥35, the presence of shock on admission, and severe TBI. Therefore, post-traumatic ARDS represents a major burden in the DGH ECCU, driven by high-velocity blunt trauma and associated with a significant mortality rate of 32.4%. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the necessity of strict, multidisciplinary protocols focused on prompt hemorrhage control, optimized resuscitation, and early identification of high-risk trauma patterns to improve critical care outcomes.

Published in International Journal of Anesthesia and Clinical Medicine (Volume 14, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijacm.20261401.11
Page(s) 1-6
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Intensive Care, Emergency, Trauma, Douala, Cameroun

References
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[4] Butt Y, Kurdowska A, Allen TC. Acute Lung Injury: A Clinical and Molecular Review. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2016; 140(4): 345–51.
[5] Rubenfeld GD, Caldwell E, Peabody E, Weaver J, Martin DP, Neff M, et al. Incidence and outcomes of acute lung injury. N Engl J Med. 2005; 353(16): 1685–93.
[6] Ferguson ND, Frutos-Vivar F, Esteban A, Gorriz M, Raymondos K, Apezteguia C, et al. Clinical risk conditions for acute lung injury in the intensive care unit and hospital ward: a prospective observational study. Crit Care. 2007; 11(5): R96.
[7] Stawicki SP. The right team at the right time – Multidisciplinary approach to multi-trauma patient with orthopedic injuries. Int J Crit Illn Inj Sci.2016; 6(1): 1–2.
[8] Ware LB, Matthay MA. The acute respiratory distress syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2000; 342(18): 1334–49.
[9] Gajic O, Dabbagh O, Park PK, Adesanya AO, Chang SY, Hou P, et al. Early identification of patients at risk of acute lung injury: evaluation of lung injury prediction score in a multicenter cohort study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011; 183(4): 462–70.
[10] Riviello ED, Kiviri W, Twagirumugabe T, Mueller A, Banner-Goodspeed VM, Officer L, et al. Hospital Incidence and Outcomes of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Using the Kigali Modification of the Berlin Definition. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2016; 193(1): 52–9.
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[15] Papazian L, Forel JM, Gacouin A, Penot-Ragon C, Perrin G, Loundou A, et al. Neuromuscular blockers in early acute respiratory distress syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2010; 363(12): 1107–16.
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  • APA Style

    Glwadys, N. A., Arlette, M. M. J., Douglas, B. N., Ferdinand, N. N., Paul, O. E., et al. (2026). Post Traumatic Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in the Emergency and Critical Care Units of the Douala General Hospital Cameroon. International Journal of Anesthesia and Clinical Medicine, 14(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijacm.20261401.11

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    ACS Style

    Glwadys, N. A.; Arlette, M. M. J.; Douglas, B. N.; Ferdinand, N. N.; Paul, O. E., et al. Post Traumatic Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in the Emergency and Critical Care Units of the Douala General Hospital Cameroon. Int. J. Anesth. Clin. Med. 2026, 14(1), 1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ijacm.20261401.11

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    AMA Style

    Glwadys NA, Arlette MMJ, Douglas BN, Ferdinand NN, Paul OE, et al. Post Traumatic Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in the Emergency and Critical Care Units of the Douala General Hospital Cameroon. Int J Anesth Clin Med. 2026;14(1):1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ijacm.20261401.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijacm.20261401.11,
      author = {Ngono Ateba Glwadys and Metogo Mbengono Junette Arlette and Banga Nkomo Douglas and Ndom Ntock Ferdinand and Owono Etoundi Paul and Bengono Rody Stephane},
      title = {Post Traumatic Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in the Emergency and Critical Care Units of the Douala General Hospital Cameroon},
      journal = {International Journal of Anesthesia and Clinical Medicine},
      volume = {14},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-6},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijacm.20261401.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijacm.20261401.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijacm.20261401.11},
      abstract = {Introduction: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a severe, life-threatening complication of major traumatic injury, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality in emergency and critical care settings globally. Data on the specific clinical profile and outcomes in Sub-Saharan African trauma centers are scarce. Objective: The Objective was to describe the epidemiology, clinical profile, severity of injury (Injury Severity Score, ISS), surgical management, and therapeutic outcomes of post-traumatic ARDS among adult trauma patients managed at the Emergency and Critical Care Unit (ECCU) of Douala General Hospital (DGH). Materials and methods: the method was a retrospective observational study was conducted over a 24 months period (January 2022 to December 2024) at DGH, including 68 consecutive adult trauma patients who developed ARDS based on the Berlin criteria. Data collected included demographics, mechanism of injury, ISS, associated injuries (especially Thoracic Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury [TBI]), ASA physical status, intra-operative events, ARDS severity, and final outcomes (survival vs. death). Results: The mean age was 39.8±14.7 years, with a male predominance (79.4%). Severe trauma (ISS ≥25) accounted for 79.4% of the cohort, with a mean ISS of 31.6±11.2. The most frequent injuries were Thoracic Trauma (50.0%) and Long Bone Fractures (42.6%). Early complications included shock (44.1%) and massive hemorrhage (36.8%). Urgent surgeries were performed in 67.6% of operative cases. ARDS onset occurred at a median of 2.8 days post-injury. The overall in-hospital mortality was 32.4%. Independent predictors of mortality included ISS≥35, the presence of shock on admission, and severe TBI. Therefore, post-traumatic ARDS represents a major burden in the DGH ECCU, driven by high-velocity blunt trauma and associated with a significant mortality rate of 32.4%. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the necessity of strict, multidisciplinary protocols focused on prompt hemorrhage control, optimized resuscitation, and early identification of high-risk trauma patterns to improve critical care outcomes.},
     year = {2026}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Post Traumatic Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in the Emergency and Critical Care Units of the Douala General Hospital Cameroon
    AU  - Ngono Ateba Glwadys
    AU  - Metogo Mbengono Junette Arlette
    AU  - Banga Nkomo Douglas
    AU  - Ndom Ntock Ferdinand
    AU  - Owono Etoundi Paul
    AU  - Bengono Rody Stephane
    Y1  - 2026/01/23
    PY  - 2026
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijacm.20261401.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijacm.20261401.11
    T2  - International Journal of Anesthesia and Clinical Medicine
    JF  - International Journal of Anesthesia and Clinical Medicine
    JO  - International Journal of Anesthesia and Clinical Medicine
    SP  - 1
    EP  - 6
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2997-2698
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijacm.20261401.11
    AB  - Introduction: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a severe, life-threatening complication of major traumatic injury, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality in emergency and critical care settings globally. Data on the specific clinical profile and outcomes in Sub-Saharan African trauma centers are scarce. Objective: The Objective was to describe the epidemiology, clinical profile, severity of injury (Injury Severity Score, ISS), surgical management, and therapeutic outcomes of post-traumatic ARDS among adult trauma patients managed at the Emergency and Critical Care Unit (ECCU) of Douala General Hospital (DGH). Materials and methods: the method was a retrospective observational study was conducted over a 24 months period (January 2022 to December 2024) at DGH, including 68 consecutive adult trauma patients who developed ARDS based on the Berlin criteria. Data collected included demographics, mechanism of injury, ISS, associated injuries (especially Thoracic Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury [TBI]), ASA physical status, intra-operative events, ARDS severity, and final outcomes (survival vs. death). Results: The mean age was 39.8±14.7 years, with a male predominance (79.4%). Severe trauma (ISS ≥25) accounted for 79.4% of the cohort, with a mean ISS of 31.6±11.2. The most frequent injuries were Thoracic Trauma (50.0%) and Long Bone Fractures (42.6%). Early complications included shock (44.1%) and massive hemorrhage (36.8%). Urgent surgeries were performed in 67.6% of operative cases. ARDS onset occurred at a median of 2.8 days post-injury. The overall in-hospital mortality was 32.4%. Independent predictors of mortality included ISS≥35, the presence of shock on admission, and severe TBI. Therefore, post-traumatic ARDS represents a major burden in the DGH ECCU, driven by high-velocity blunt trauma and associated with a significant mortality rate of 32.4%. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the necessity of strict, multidisciplinary protocols focused on prompt hemorrhage control, optimized resuscitation, and early identification of high-risk trauma patterns to improve critical care outcomes.
    VL  - 14
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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