Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Question 1

What does ARDS stand for?

Answer 1

Acute respiratory distress syndrome

ARDS is also known as shock lung, Da Nang lung, and hyaline membrane disease in neonates.

Question 2

What are some causes of ARDS?

Answer 2

• Diffuse damage to the alveoli
• Shock
• Aspiration of gastric contents
• Pulmonary edema
• Barotrauma
• Hypoxic event

ARDS can be exacerbated by direct lung damage, such as in trauma patients with severe pulmonary contusions.

Question 3

What happens to the alveoli in ARDS?

Answer 3

They become stiff (noncompliant) and difficult to ventilate.

Question 4

What type of ventilation is required for patients with ARDS?

Answer 4

Mechanical ventilation under extraordinarily high pressure.

Question 5

What is a consequence of using high pressure mechanical ventilation in ARDS patients?

Answer 5

It causes even more damage to the lungs.

Question 6

What is a risk associated with delivering high oxygen concentrations for prolonged periods in ARDS?

Answer 6

Additional destruction of lung tissue.

Question 7

What should be documented during the assessment of a patient with ARDS?

Answer 7

• Oxygen saturation
• Breath sounds
• Any sudden change in the patient’s condition

Question 8

What characteristic do patients with ARDS typically have regarding their lungs?

Answer 8

Stiff lungs.

Question 9

What should be monitored during manual ventilation in ARDS patients?

Answer 9

Ventilation pressure.

Question 10

What can be a lung-protective strategy for ARDS?

Answer 10

• Low tidal volume
• Inverse I/E ratio
• Permissive hypercapnia

Question 11

True or False: ARDS is frequently seen in the field.

Answer 11

False.