We review Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Hosts:
Sadakat Chowdhury, MD
Brian Gilberti, MD



https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/ARDS.mp3



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Tags: Critical Care, Pulmonary





Show Notes

Definition of ARDS:

Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema characterized by acute respiratory failure.
Berlin criteria for diagnosis include acute onset within 7 days, bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on imaging, not fully explained by cardiac failure or fluid overload, and impaired oxygenation with PaO2/FiO2 ratio <300 mmHg, even with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) >5 cm H2O.


Severity based on oxygenation (Berlin criteria):

Mild: PaO2/FiO2 200-300 mmHg
Moderate: PaO2/FiO2 100-200 mmHg
Severe: PaO2/FiO2 <100 mmHg


Epidemiology:

Occurs in up to 23% of mechanically ventilated patients.
Mortality rate of 30-40%, primarily due to multiorgan failure.


Differentiation from Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema:

Chest CT shows diffuse edema and pleural effusion in cardiogenic edema; patchy edema, dense consolidation in ARDS.
Ultrasound may show diffuse B lines in cardiogenic edema; patchy B lines and normal A lines in ARDS.


Pathophysiology:

Exudative phase: Immune-mediated alveolar damage, pulmonary edema, cytokine release.
Proliferative phase: Reabsorption of edema fluid.
Fibrotic phase: Potential for prolonged ventilation.


Etiology:

Direct lung injury (pneumonia, toxins, aspiration, trauma, drowning) and indirect causes (sepsis, pancreatitis, transfusion reactions, certain drugs).


Diagnostics:

Comprehensive workup including imaging (chest X-ray, CT),