Adult
Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in adults is a severe damage to both of the lungs.
People suffering from ARDS experience severe shortness
of breath and need life support or ventilation
to survive due to respiratory failure. It is often
confused with congestive heart failure, which
also leads to acute respiratory distress.
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is a serious
lung condition in which the patient usually requires
medical treatment and hospitalization due to respiratory failure. It is brought on by several problems
and may cause permanent lung damage or disability.
Patients often need artificial respiration as
their lungs stop functioning properly.
It is a life threatening condition in which fluids
collect in the air sac and due to inflammation
of lungs, oxygen level drops down.
Symptoms of ARDS
Symptoms of ARDS may vary depending on the patients.
Only your doctor can provide an appropriate regarding
the problem.
- Difficulty in breathing
- Rapid breathing
- Ineffective lungs
- Stiff lungs
- Cyanosis
- Hyperventilation
- Increased work of breathing
Factors That Cause ARDS
- Lung inflammation or injury, due to filling
up of lungs with fluids they get stiff and heavy
and ability to expand is severely decreased
and causes problem in breathing.
- shock
- severe blood loss
- bacteria lung infection
- blood transfusion adverse reaction
- water inhalation
- fungal lung infection
- bone fractures
- toxic fume inhalation
Treatment For ARDS
For treatment of ARDS, always medical help should
be taken. Only hospitals and doctors can provide
the necessary care that a patient requires.
- Emergency treatment
- Intensive care
- Ventilation
- Surfactant
Diagnosis And Tests
- Chest examination that reveals abnormal breathing
sounds
- Low blood pressure
- Cyanosis that is blue skin lips and nails
due to lack of oxygen in body
- Chest X-ray is carried out
- CBC test and blood chemistries
- Culture and analysis of sputum specimens
- Occasionally heart ultra sound is also carried
to make sure that heart failure is not a risk
as it also has a similar X-ray
Complications
Sometimes due to long term lung condition and
treatment following complication may also occur;
- Multiple organ function failure
- Ventilator associated failure
- Damage to lungs due to high setting of ventilator
to treat the disease such as pneumothorax
Even though it is a serious condition, with proper
care and diagnosis it can be taken care of. At
the same time therapy and group discussions regarding
this condition are necessary so as to spread awareness. |
