Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening lung condition that prevents enough oxygen from getting to the lungs and into the blood. Clinically, it is characterized by dyspnea, profound hypoxemia, decreased lung compliance, and diffuse bilateral infiltrates on chest radiography. Provision of supplemental oxygen, lung rest, and supportive care are the fundamentals of therapy.
ARDS usually develops in people who are already very ill with another disease or who have major injuries.
Common causes include:
- Breathing vomit into the lungs (aspiration)
- Inhaling chemicals
- Lung transplant
- Pneumonia
- Septic shock (infection throughout the body)
- Trauma
Risk factors
- Smoke inhalation
- Burns
- Near drowning
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Pregnancy
- Eclampsia
- Amniotic fluid embolus
- Drugs - paraquat, heroin, aspirin
- Acute pancreatitis
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
- Head injury/raised intracranial pressure (ICP)
- Fat emboli
- Transfusions of blood products
- Heart/lung bypass
- Tumour lysis syndrome
- Pulmonary contusion
Symptoms
- Difficulty breathing
- Low blood pressure and organ failure
- Rapid breathing
- Shortness of breath
Nursing Diagnosis for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
- Ineffective breathing pattern
- Impaired Gas Exchange
- Ineffective airway clearance
- Decreased Cardiac Output
- Risk for Injury
- Excess Fluid Volume
- Impaired Verbal Communication
- Impaired Physical Mobility
- Impaired Skin Integrity
- Sleep Pattern Disturbance
- Ineffective Coping
