title: "ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome)"
ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome)
Key Facts
ARDS is an acute inflammatory lung injury causing non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema and severe hypoxaemia.
Ventilate with low tidal volume (6 mL/kg predicted body weight) and keep plateau pressure <30 cmH₂O.
Source: ARDSNet lung-protective ventilation / local ICU protocol.
Overview
This article covers definition, severity, and core ventilator principles.
Definition (Berlin)
- Onset within 1 week of a clinical insult
- Bilateral opacities on imaging
- Respiratory failure not fully explained by cardiac failure/fluid overload
- Severity by PaO₂/FiO₂ (with PEEP/CPAP ≥5 cmH₂O)
Core management principles
- Treat the cause (sepsis, pneumonia, aspiration)
- Lung-protective ventilation (low tidal volume)
- Consider prone positioning for moderate–severe ARDS
Sources
- CC Bible
Test Your Knowledge
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Related Topics
See also: Mechanical Ventilation Basics, Respiratory Failure: Type 1 & Type 2, Sepsis & Septic Shock