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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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Exams and Tests for ARDS

• Arterial blood gas analysis reveals hypoxemia (reduced levels of oxygen in the blood).

• A complete blood count may be taken. The number of white blood cells is increased in sepsis.

• Chest x-ray will show the presence of fluid in the lungs.

• CT scan of the chest may be required only in some situations (routine chest x-ray is sufficient in most cases).

• Echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart) may help exclude any heart problems that can cause fluid build-up in the lung.

• Monitoring with a pulmonary artery catheter may be done to exclude a cardiac cause for the difficulty in breathing.

• Bronchoscopy (a procedure used to look inside the windpipe and large airways of the lung) may be considered to evaluate the possibility of lung infection.