ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS

SYNDROME (ARDS)

Prepared By: Brian John T. Ampong BSN II-A

 ARDS

 Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a life-

threatening lung condition that prevents enough
oxygen from getting into the blood.

 Acute respiratory distress syndrome was first

described in 1678 by Ashbaugh and colleagues.
 ARDS also referred with variety of terms like:
 Stiff lung
 Shock lung
 Wet lung
 Post traumatic lung
 Adult respiratory acute syndrome
 Adult hyaline membrane disease
 Capillary leak syndrome
 Congestive atelectasis
 DEFINITION

 Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a

sudden and progressive form of acute respiratory
failure in which the alveolar capillary membrane
becomes damaged and more permeable to
intravascular fluid resulting in severe dyspnea,
hypoxemia and diffuse pulmonary infiltrates.
 Etiology and Risk Factors

 Direct Lung injury

 Common causes
1. Aspiration of gastric contents or other substances.
2. Viral/ bacterial pneumonia
 Contd..

 Less common causes

1. Chest trauma
2. Embolism: fat, air, amnoitic fluid
3. Inhalation of toxic substances
4. Near-drowning
5. O2 toxicity
6. Radiation pneumonitis
 Etiology and Risk Factors

 Indirect Lung injury

 Common causes
1. Sepsis
2. Severe traumatic injury
 Contd..

 Less common causes

1. Acute pancreatitis
2. Anaphylaxis
3. Prolonged pulmonary bypass surgery
4. Disseminated Intravascular coagulation
5. Multiple blood transfusions
6. Narcotic drug overdose
7. Severe head injury
8. Shock
9. Massive blood transfusion
 Early Signs and Symptoms

 Restlessness
 Dsypnea
 Low blood pressure
 Confusion
 Extreme tiredness
 Change in patients behavior
 Mood swing
 Disorientation
 Change in LOC
 Contd..

 If pneumonia is causing ARDS then client may have

 Cough
 Fever
 Late Signs and Symptoms

 Severe difficulty in breathing

 Shortness of breath
 Tachycardia
 Cyanosis
 Think frothy sputum
 Metabolic acidosis
 Abnormal breath sounds