Adult Respiratory
Distress Syndrome
ARDS
Adult Respiratory
Distress Syndrome
ARDS
ARDS
Rapidly developing respiratory
insufficiency resulting from leakage of
protein-rich edema fluid into alveoli 2°
damage to capillary endothelium
ARDS
Constellation of Signs and Symptoms
Tachypnea, dyspnea, cough
Diffuse air-space disease on chest x-ray
Severe arterial oxygen desaturation
Resistant to high concentrations of 0
2
Pulmonary function tests
Decreased compliance
Increased pulmonary vascular pressures and
resistances
Shock lung
Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema
Post-traumatic pulmonary insufficiency
Pump lung
Stiff lung syndrome
Respirator lung
Hemorrhagic lung
ARDS
Synonyms
Predisposing conditions
Shock
Hypovolemic, hemorrhagic
Septic-especially gram negative
Massive aspiration of gastric contents
Mendelsohn’s Syndrome
Burns
Acute pancreatitis
Heroin/methadone/crack cocaine overdose
Predisposing conditions
Continued
Disseminated intravascular coagulation
Smoke, chlorine gas, NO
2
inhalation
Massive viral pneumonia
Fat embolism
Near-drowning
Pathophysiology of ARDS
Diffuse alveolar damage
Damage to type I pneumocytes
flooding
of alveoli with edema fluid
Hyaline membranes form
Line distal airways and alveoli
Pathophysiology of ARDS
Type II pneumocytes proliferate to
reline denuded alveolar surfaces
Fibroblastic tissue generated in and
around airspaces
Pathophysiology of ARDS
Role of Leukocytes
PMLs in lung and bloodstream activated by
variety of mechanisms
Release oxygen-free radicals, lysozomal
nzs and arachidonate metabolites
Damage capillary and alveolar endothelium
Pathophysiology of ARDS
Enzymes and Mediators
Prostaglandins
Leukotrienes
Thromboxane
Prekallikrein
Bradykinin
Complement
Blood-clotting factors
Pathologic Findings
Hemorrhage
Microatelectasis
Hyaline membrane formation
Destruction of type I pneumocytes
Hyperplasia of type II pneumocytes
Collagen deposition and fibrosis
X-ray Findings
Important Negative Findings
No cardiomegaly
No pleural effusions
No Kerley B lines
X-ray Findings
Important Positive Findings
Peripheral distribution to patchy infiltrates
Air bronchograms
X-Ray Findings
First 24 hours
Delay in onset of any x-ray findings for
12 hours post-onset of symptoms
Between 12 and 24 hours
Patchy alveolar infiltrates appear in both
lungs
Frequently peripheral in location
X-Ray Findings
First 48 hours
Between 24 and 48 hours
Coalesce
massive air-space consolidation of
both lungs
Frequently with air bronchograms
X-Ray Findings
First week
From 5 to 7 days
Clearing is frequently 2° effects of CPP
ventilation rather than true healing
Watch for pulmonary interstitial emphysema
Pneumonia may superimpose
Look for new focal infiltrates and pleural effusion
X-Ray Findings
Long-term
More than one week
Coarse reticular interstitial disease which may
fibrosis
Complications of CPP Ventilation
May result in complete “clearing”
minutes after starting
Pulmonary interstitial emphysema
Pneumothorax
Pneumomediastinum
ARDS
Differential Diagnosis
Diffuse bacterial pneumonia
Impossible to tell except clinically
Cardiogenic pulmonary edema
Renal-based pulmonary edema
Differential Diagnosis
Kerley B lines and Peribronchial Cuffing
Cardiac
30%
Renal
30%
ARDS
None
Differential Diagnosis
Distribution of Pulmonary Edema
Cardiac
Even 90%
Renal
Central 70%
ARDS
Peripheral in 45%
Even in 35%
Differential Diagnosis
Air Bronchograms
Cardiac
20%
Renal
20%
ARDS
70%
Differential Diagnosis
Pleural Effusions
Cardiac
40%
Renal
30%
ARDS
10%
ARDS
Clinical
Dyspnea, cough, tachypnea
Severe hypoxemia
Normal or decreased PaCO
2
Blood-tinged sputum signifies full-
blown syndrome
ARDS
Prognosis
Mortality in full-blown syndrome >50%
Usually from multi-organ failure, esp.
renal failure
Increasing PO
2
Not associated with increased survival
ECMO doesn’t work
Survivors may have mild restrictive
lung disease
Related forms of Pulmonary Edema
High-altitude pulmonary edema
>11,000 ft
Re-expansion pulmonary edema
Usually long-standing PTX too rapidly
expanded
Pulmonary edema associated with
severe upper airway obstruction
Laryngospasm
Clinical Lag Patchy infiltrates Clearing
Insult Radiologic Lag
Diffuse Disease Residual Interstitial
Fibrosis
Time Line for ARDS