Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Question 1

What is ARDS other wise known as

Answer 1

post traumatic lung

Question 2

what is ARDS

Answer 2

severe damage done to the alveoli and cap wall

Question 3

what does this severe damage cause

Answer 3

injury causes inflammation which causes an increase in permeability (becomes uncontrolled)

Question 4

Aetiology of ARDS

Answer 4

chest trauma
DIC
burns
aspiration
septicemia
near drowning

Question 5

Patho

Answer 5

lung trauma - neutrophil influx - inflammatory cells release free radicals, proteases, phospholipids - these cause damage to the endothelium and alveoli - increase perm - efflux of cells, proteins, fluids - these get into interstitial spaces and the alveoli - problematic 3rd spacing d/t the particles - decreased compliance and impaired gas exchange

Question 6

Other patho

Answer 6

surfactant deficiency and inactivation = atelectasis
thick protein and cell rich exudate lines alveoli = no gas exchange
impervious (resistant) hyaline membrane lines alveoli - no gas exchange - profound hypoxemia

Question 7

Manifestations

Answer 7

acute onset of rest distress
dyspnea, tachypnea,
early respiratory alkalosis (d/t tachypnea)
late metabolic acidosis (d/t anaerobic met = lactic acid)
diffuse consolidation

Question 8

Treatment

Answer 8

early intervention
reverse the cause
resp support
treat complications ( AWARE, AVOID, DEAL)