Controversies in acute respiratory failure

Pro and con debate
Chairs: N. Hart (London, United Kingdom), I. Martin-Loeches (Dublin, Ireland)
Aims: To tackles three different controversial issues in the treatment of acute de novo respiratory failure, like the optimal timing for endotracheal intubation, the role of awake prone positioning, and the role of benzodiazepines in patients with acute respiratory failure.

PRO: Delayed intubation results in patient self-inflicted lung injury P. Navalesi (Padova, Italy)
CON: Delayed intubation results in patient self-inflicted lung injury S. Nava (Bologna (BO), Italy)
PRO/CON Discussion S. Nava (Bologna (BO), Italy), P. Navalesi (Padova, Italy)
PRO: Awake prone position decreases risk of endotracheal intubation in patients with pneumonia L. Piquilloud (Lausanne, Switzerland)
CON: Awake prone position decreases risk of endotracheal intubation in patients with pneumonia J. Laffey (Galway, Ireland)
PRO/CON Discussion J. Laffey (Galway, Ireland), L. Piquilloud (Lausanne, Switzerland)
PRO: Steroids should be used in severe pneumonia C. Summers (Cambridge (Cambridgeshire), United Kingdom)
CON: Steroids should be used in severe pneumonia A. Artigas (Sabadell (Barcelona), Spain)
PRO/CON Discussion A. Artigas (Sabadell (Barcelona), Spain), C. Summers (Cambridge (Cambridgeshire), United Kingdom)