ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) is a combination of acute respiratory failure combined with non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. It is characterised by decreased lung compliance and hypoxaemia that is refractory to oxygen therapy.
The main features of ARDS are:
1. Diffuse pulmonary infiltrates
2. PaO2/FiO2 ratio of <200mg
- this indicates that the acute respiratory failure is refractory to oxygen therapy
- normal PaO2 = 80-100mmHg
- room FiO2 = 0.21 (21% O2 in atmospheric air)
- if PaO2 is not available, SaO2 can be used as a surrogate
3. Pulmonary wedge pressure <16mmHg
- this indicates that the left atrial pressure is normal, therefore that pulmonary oedema is not cardiogenic
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