Table 1.

The Lung Injury Prediction Score (LIPS)

Predisposing conditionsLIPS pointsRisk modifiersLIPS points
Shock2Alcohol abuse1
Aspiration2Obesity (BMI>30)1
Sepsis1Hypoalbuminaemia1
Pneumonia1.5Diabetes mellitus–1
High-risk surgeryChemotherapy1

  • Orthopaedic spine

1FiO 2>0.35 or >4 L/min2

  • Acute abdomen

2Tachypnoea RR>301.5

  • Cardiac

2.5SpO 2<95%1

  • Aortic vascular

3.5Acidosis (pH<7.35)1.5
High-risk trauma

  • Traumatic brain injury

2

  • Smoke inhalation

2

  • Near drowning

2

  • Lung confusion

1.5

  • Multiple fractures

1.5

  • In evaluation, LIPS discriminated between patients who did and who did not develop acute lung injury (ALI). When a cut-off score of greater than 4 points was used, sensitivity of the score for ALI was 0.69 (95% CI 0.64–0.74), specificity 0.78 (95% CI 0.77–0.79), positive predictive value 0.18 (0.16–0.20) and negative predictive value 0.97 (0.97–0.98).13