Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Question 1

What is ARDS due to?

Answer 1

Increased permeability of alveolar capillaries leading to fluid accumulation in the alveoli,

Question 2

What type of condition is ARDS?

Answer 2

Serious conditon

Question 3

What is the prognosis of ARDS?

Answer 3

Mortality of around 40%
Associated with significant morbidity in those who survive.

Question 4

What are the main infective causes of ARDS?

Answer 4

Sepsis
Pneumonia

Question 5

What are the other possible causes of ARDS?

Answer 5

massive blood transfusion
trauma
smoke inhalation
acute pancreatitis
Covid-19
cardio-pulmonary bypass

Question 6

What is ARDS a complication of?

Answer 6

Acute pancreatitis

Question 7

What are the main clincial features of ARDS?

Answer 7

Dyspnoea
Elevated respiratory rate
Bilateral lung crackles
Low oxygen saturations

Question 8

Wha will be elevated in someone with ARDS?

Answer 8

Respiratory rate

Question 9

What will be low in someone wit ARDS?

Answer 9

Oxygen saturations

Question 10

What might you hear in the lungs of someone with ARDS?

Answer 10

Bilateral basal crackles

Question 11

How is ARDS diagnosed?

Answer 11

A chest x-ray
Arterial blood gases

Question 12

What might you see on a chest x-ray of someone with ARDS?

Answer 12

Bilateral infiltrates

Question 13

Where are patients with ARDS usually managed?

Answer 13

ITU/HDU

Question 14

What is used to treat the hypoxiaemia in someone with ARDS?

Answer 14

oxygenation/ventilation

Question 15

What medication can be gvien for organ support in someone with ARDS?

Answer 15

Vasopressors