Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

This book describes Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related DiseasesAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening lung disorder that prevents sufficient oxygen from getting to the lungs and into the blood. ARDS is a disorder that causes fluid to leak into the lungs, stopping oxygen from getting to the organs. It is serious, occasionally life-threatening, and can get worse quickly.
But it is normally treatable and most people can recover from it. Fast diagnosis and treatment are essentialThe organs require sufficient oxygen to work well and keep the patient goingInfants can also have respiratory distress syndrome. CausesARDS can be produced by any major direct or indirect injury to the lung. Frequent causes are:1. Breathing vomit into the lungs (aspiration)2. Inhaling chemicals3.
Lung transplant4. Pneumonia5. Septic shock (infection throughout the body)6. TraumaDependent on the quantity of oxygen in the blood and during breathing, the severity of ARDS is categorized as:1. Mild (PaO2/FiO2 200-300), 2. Moderate (PaO2/FiO2 100-200), and3. Severe (PaO2/FiO2 ?100). ARDS can cause a collection of fluid in the air sacs (alveoli). Fluid leaks from small blood vessels and collects in the tiny air sacs in the lungs.
The lungs are then not able to fill up with enough air. This fluid stops enough oxygen from passing into the bloodstream. The fluid collection also makes the lungs heavy and stiff. This decreases the lungs' ability to expand. Due to this, the blood traveling to the lungs cannot take up the quantity of oxygen it requires to carry to the rest of the body. The level of oxygen in the blood can remain precariously low, even if the person obtains oxygen from a ventilator through a breathing tube.
That can cause organs such as the kidneys or brain not to work as they should or shutting down. SymptomsSymptoms normally form within 24 to 48 hours of the damage or illness. Often, people with ARDS are so ill they are not able to complain of symptoms.1. Shortness of breath, often severe. ARDS makes it difficult to breathe and puts great strain on the lungs.2. Fast heartbeat3. Organ failure4. Low blood pressure5.
Unusually fast breathing6. Confusion and exhaustion7. Blue-tinted lips or nails8. Dizziness9. Lots of sweatingDiagnosisNo one test can diagnose a case of ARDS. It is often a clinical diagnosisA chest X-ray is crucial and provide the doctor an idea of how much fluid is in the lungs and where it is sitedTreatmentThe treatment aims to get oxygen levels in the blood back up to where they should be, so the organs get what they need.
The purpose of treatment is to provide breathing support and treat the cause of ARDS. This may require medicines to treat infections, reduce inflammation, and remove fluid from the lungs. Doctors might begin with an air mask and later go to a breathing tube and ventilatorOther treatments might are:1. Nutrition and medicine through IV fluids2. Medicine to prevent bleeding and blood clots3. Medicine to keep the patient calm and comfortablePeople with ARDS are treated in the intensive care unit at a hospital.
People who react to treatment normally have a full recovery with no long-term harmPeople often require to be deeply sedated with medicines. During treatment, doctors make every effort to protect the lungs from further damage. The treatment is mainly supportive until the lungs recover. Occasionally, a treatment called extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is done, filtering blood through a machine to supply oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide.
After ARDS the patient may require physical therapyTABLE OF CONTENTIntroductionChapter 1 Acute Respir...