Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Information about Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is an acute process, which results in moderate to severe loss of lung function.

In ARDS there is intense inflammation of the lung tissue, which can be caused by a variety of factors. This inflammation in the lung results in a loss of function. The alveoli lose their ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide with the blood. This loss of function of the alveoli is due to collapse of the air sacs and leakage of fluid (which is called edema) into the air sacs.

This sequence of events can happen rapidly. It can start in one lung and advance to the other. If the inflammation persists over time, the lungs will eventually attempt to heal the damage, which results in the formation of scar tissue. The formation of scar tissue will continue to create a problem with gas (oxygen and carbon dioxide) exchange.

A. ARDS presents within 12-24 hours of antecedent event
B. ARDS patients intubated within 72 hours in 90% cases
C. High mortality rate (ICU: 37%, overall: 42%)
D. Predictors of better prognosis

1. Those who survive acute respiratory distress syndrome in the first 2 weeks have better prognosis
2. Age under 55 years
3. Trauma related to acute respiratory distress syndrome

E. Predictors of poor prognosis


1. Elderly (especially over age 70 years)
2. Immunocompromised patients
3. Chronic Liver Disease
4. Increased dead space fraction

F. Only 34% of ards survivors are well enough to be discharged directly home
G. ALI/ARDS leads to approximately 2.2 million days in the ICU

• Shock
• Severe blood loss
• Bone fractures - if they cause shock.
• Severe infections
• Bacterial lung infection
• Viral lung infection
• Fungal lung infection
• Lung trauma
• Drowning
• Water inhalation
• Vomit inhalation
• Pneumonia
• Sepsis
• Poliomyelitis
• Blood transfusion adverse reaction (type of Adverse reaction)
• Heart bypass surgery adverse reaction (type of Adverse reaction)
• Smoke inhalation
• Toxic fume inhalation
• Circulatory collapse
• Sepsis
• Asthma
• Emphysema
• Muscular dystrophy
• Pancreatitis
• Guillaine-Barre syndrome
• Uremia
• Myasthenia gravis

• Incidence (annual) of Acute respiratory distress syndrome:
  

  150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome each year

• Incidence extrapolations for the United States of America for Acute respiratory distress syndrome:

150,000 per year
12,500 per month
2,884 per week
410 per day
17 per hour

Acute respiratory distress syndrome by  country (Extrapolated Statistics)