Contributor: Don Stader, MD

Educational Pearls:

• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a catch all term for when lung injury leads to fluid collection in the air spaces of the lungs 

• Ventilatory management in ARDS patients involves lower FiO2 and PEEP than other patients and relies on lung protective ventilation strategies to prevent barotrauma

• Proning these patients has also been utilized with the goal of matching V/Q, or getting good blood flow to areas of the lung which are well ventilated.

References

1. Higher versus Lower Positive End-Expiratory Pressures in Patients with the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. N Engl J Med 2004; 351:327-336. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa032193

2. Howell MD, Davis AM. Management of ARDS in Adults. JAMA. 2018;319(7):711–712. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.0307

3. Scholten, E.L. et al. Treatment of ARDS With Prone Positioning. Chest. 2017 Jan;151(1):215-224. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2016.06.032. Epub 2016 Jul 8.

Summarized by Jackson Roos, MS3 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD