Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pronounced as /əˈkjuːt rɪˈspɪrətəri dɪˈstrɛs sɪndroʊm/, is a severe, often life-threatening condition characterized by widespread inflammation in the lungs.
Etymology
The term "acute respiratory distress syndrome" was first used in 1967 and has been frequently defined since. "Acute" refers to the sudden onset of symptoms, "respiratory" pertains to the breathing system, "distress" indicates severe discomfort or suffering, and "syndrome" denotes a group of symptoms that consistently occur together.
Definition
ARDS is a type of respiratory failure characterized by rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs. It is a life-threatening condition that prevents oxygen from getting to the lungs and into the blood. Inflammation in the lungs causes fluid to leak into the alveoli, preventing the lungs from filling with air and moving oxygen into the bloodstream.
Symptoms
Symptoms of ARDS can include shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and bluish skin coloration. For those who survive ARDS, long-term effects can include memory problems, fatigue, and weakness, collectively known as the post-intensive care syndrome.
Causes
ARDS can be caused by any major inflammation or injury to the lungs. Common causes include pneumonia, sepsis, aspiration of stomach contents into the lungs, and severe trauma.
Treatment
Treatment for ARDS primarily involves addressing the underlying cause and supporting the patient's breathing. This can involve oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, or in severe cases, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
Related Terms
- Pneumonia
- Sepsis
- Post-intensive care syndrome
- Oxygen therapy
- Mechanical ventilation
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Acute respiratory distress syndrome
- Wikipedia's article - Acute respiratory distress syndrome
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski