Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Question 1

Definition of ARDS

Answer 1

Is a syndrome of inflammation and increased permeability associated with characteristics clinical, physiological and radiological changes.

Question 2

Characteristics of ARDS

Answer 2

PaO2 / FiO2 less than 200
Significant V/Q mismatch.
Normal pulmonary capillary wedge pressure less than 18.
No hypoxaemia but can develop from the lungs itself.

Question 3

Classification of ARDS

Answer 3

Primary ARDS: Failure of lungs alone, there’s direct pulmonary injury.
Secondary ARDS: Failure of lungs due to systemic disease. The pulmonary structure is fairly normal

Question 4

Radiological findings

Answer 4

Lungs remain normal during the first initial hours of ARDS.
After 36 hrs they get faint, hazzy ground glass appearance.
By 36-72 hrs we see global pulmonary infiltration without cardiac enlargement.