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Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (cont.)

Outlook

  • Outlook of persons with ARDS has improved over the last 20 years; 60%-70% of persons survive.

  • Persons with a poor outlook include those older than 65 years and those with sepsis as the underlying cause. The adverse effect of age may be related to the underlying health status.

  • Survivors of ARDS may recover normal lung function. However, some of them may have residual lung impairment or persistent muscle weakness. Typically, the lung dysfunction is mild, but ARDS can lead to severe lung damage and a reduced health-related quality of life.

  • Severe disease and prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation are predictors of persistent abnormalities in lung function.



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Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome »

Since World War I, it has been recognized that some patients with nonthoracic injuries, severe pancreatitis, massive transfusion, sepsis, and other conditions may develop respiratory distress, diffuse lung infiltrates, and respiratory failure sometimes after a delay of hours to days.

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