Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
(ARDS)

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Medical Author:

Eloise M Harman, MD

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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• ARDS Overview
• ARDS Causes
• ARDS Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care for ARDS
• Exams and Tests for ARDS
• ARDS Treatment
• Medical Treatment for ARDS
• Medication for ARDS
• Next Steps
• Follow-up
• Prevention of ARDS
• Outlook
• Support Groups and Counseling
• For More Information About ARDS
• Pictures of ARDS
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors
• Read more on Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome from Healthwise
• Viewer Comments: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome - Symptoms

ARDS Overview

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by the development of sudden breathlessness within hours to days of an inciting event. Inciting events include:

• trauma,
  
  
• sepsis (microorganisms growing in a person's blood),
  
  
• drug overdose,
  
  
• massive transfusion of blood products,
  
  
• acute pancreatitis, or
  
  
• aspiration (fluid entering the lungs, especially stomach contents).

In many cases, the initial event is obvious, but, in others (such as drug overdose) the underlying cause may not be so easy to identify. ARDS typically develops within 12-48 hours after the inciting event, although, in rare instances, it may take up to a few days. Persons developing ARDS are critically ill, often with multisystem organ failure. It is a life-threatening condition; therefore, hospitalization is required for prompt management.

ARDS is associated with severe and diffuse injury to the alveolar-capillary membrane (the air sacs and small blood vessels) of the lungs. Fluid accumulates in some alveoli of the lungs, while some other alveoli collapse. This alveolar damage impedes the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, which leads to a reduced concentration of oxygen in the blood. Low levels of oxygen in the blood cause damage to other vital organs of the body such as the kidneys.

ARDS occurs in children as well as adults. The estimated annual frequency of ARDS is reported as 75 cases per 100,000 population. Mortality (death) rates have been reported to be in the range of 30%-40%, but mortality increases with advancing age.