Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Quiz

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Overview

• ARDS involves disruption of the alveolar-capillary membrane and is associated with noncardiac pulmonary edema.

Direct Injury Risks for ARDS

• Near-drowning can lead to ARDS via aspiration of water.
• Foreign body aspiration contributes to ARDS through airway obstruction.
• Pulmonary contusion from blunt force injuries can initiate ARDS.
• Pneumonia acts as a direct injury factor for ARDS development.
• Radiation exposure to the chest is another risk factor.

Initial Symptoms of ARDS

• Patients in the initial phase may exhibit restlessness, signaling reduced respiratory efficiency.

Mechanical Ventilation Oxygen Levels

• The preferred maximum oxygen level with mechanical ventilation is 50%, minimizing oxygen toxicity risks.

Key Non-pulmonary Functions in ARDS Management

• Cardiac output (CO) optimization is crucial to enhance recovery and reduce fluid leakage into the lungs.

Patient-reported Problems in ARDS

• Intrapulmonary shunting can impair gas exchange due to inflammation in lung tissue.
• Impaired cardiac output results from pulmonary circulation alterations.
• Anxiety often arises due to inadequate breathing capabilities.
• Malnutrition may occur due to increased work of breathing limiting food intake.
• Ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch results from inflammatory changes affecting gas exchange.

ARDS Severity Classification

• The Berlin Definition categorizes ARDS severity into mild, moderate, and severe based on PaO2/FiO2 levels.
• Moderate ARDS is indicated by a PaO2/FiO2 level of 150 mm Hg.

Signs of Reduced Ventilatory Efficiency

• Excessive use of accessory muscles indicates diminished ventilatory efficiency in the fibroproliferative stage of ARDS.

Mechanical Ventilation Strategy

• An effective combination for preventing hypercapnia is low tidal volume/high respiration rate, ensuring efficient gas exchange while minimizing trauma.

Purpose of Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP)

• PEEP is used to stabilize alveoli, promoting better oxygen levels and reducing the need for high FiO2.