Acute respiratory distress syndrome
How ARDS is diagnosed
There's no specific test to diagnose ARDS. A full assessment is needed to identify the underlying cause and rule out other conditions. This assessment is likely to include:
- a physical examination
- blood tests to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood and check for an infection
- a pulse oximetry test where a sensor attached to the fingertip, ear or toe is used to measure how much oxygen the blood is absorbing
- a chest X-ray and a computerised tomography (CT) scan to look for evidence of ARDS
- an echocardiogram a type of ultrasound scan used to create a picture of the heart
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening medical condition where the lungs can't provide enough oxygen for the rest of the body.
Medical emergency
Although most cases of ARDS begin in hospital, this isn't always the case. For example, the condition may develop quickly as a result of an infection such as pneumonia , or if someone accidentally inh
What causes ARDS?
ARDS develops if the lungs become severely inflamed as a result of an infection or injury. The inflammation causes fluid from nearby blood vessels to leak into the tiny air sacs in your lungs, making
How ARDS is diagnosed
There's no specific test to diagnose ARDS. A full assessment is needed to identify the underlying cause and rule out other conditions. This assessment is likely to include: a physical examination blo
Treating ARDS
If someone develops ARDS, they'll probably be admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) and put on a ventilator to assist their breathing. In some cases, it may be possible to use an oxygen mask to su
Complications of ARDS
As ARDS is often caused by a serious health condition, about one in three people who develop it will die. However, most deaths result from another problem caused by their illness, rather than ARDS its
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