Editorial

Acute respiratory insufficiency resulting from diffuse diseases in the pulmonary parenchyma is a severe condition that presents high mortality rates and, consequently, requires early appropriate treatment. In recent decades, there have been advances in measures for ventilatory, hemodynamic, and nutritional support, as well as for substitution of renal function and infection control, all of which have, overall, been improving survival in intensive care units. However, despite the efficacy of all of these support measures, patient recovery depends on the specific treatment of the disease, which must therefore be identified. At this point, cases of diffuse pulmonary infiltrate in critical patients pose a great challenge, since there are a number of diagnosti