Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Nursing Care Plan & Management
Description
1. Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a form of acute respiratory failure that
occurs as a complication of some other condition, is caused by a diffuse lung injury,
and leads to extravascular lung fluid.
2. The major site of injury is the alveolar capillary membrane.
3. The interstitial edema causes compression and obliteration of the terminal airways
and leads to reduced lung volume and compliance.
4. The ABG’s identify respiratory acidosis and hypoxemia that do not respond to an
increase percentage of oxygen.
5. The chest X-ray film shows interstitial edema.
6. Some of the causes include sepsis, fluid overload, shock, trauma, neurological
injuries, burns, disseminated intravascular coagulation, drug ingestion and
inhalation of toxic substances.
, Causes & Risk Factors
ARDS can be caused by any major swelling (inflammation) or injury to the lung. Some
common causes include:
● Breathing vomit into the lungs (aspiration)
● Inhaling chemicals
● Pneumonia
● Septic shock
● Trauma
ARDS leads to a buildup of fluid in the air sacs. This fluid prevents enough oxygen from
passing into the bloodstream.
The fluid buildup also makes the lungs heavy and stiff, and decreases the lungs’ ability to
expand. The level of oxygen in the blood can stay dangerously low, even if the person receives
oxygen from a breathing machine (mechanical ventilator) through a breathing tube
(endotracheal tube).
ARDS often occurs along with the failure of other organ systems, such as the liver or the
kidneys. Cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol use may be risk factors.
Nursing Care Plan & Management
Description
1. Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a form of acute respiratory failure that
occurs as a complication of some other condition, is caused by a diffuse lung injury,
and leads to extravascular lung fluid.
2. The major site of injury is the alveolar capillary membrane.
3. The interstitial edema causes compression and obliteration of the terminal airways
and leads to reduced lung volume and compliance.
4. The ABG’s identify respiratory acidosis and hypoxemia that do not respond to an
increase percentage of oxygen.
5. The chest X-ray film shows interstitial edema.
6. Some of the causes include sepsis, fluid overload, shock, trauma, neurological
injuries, burns, disseminated intravascular coagulation, drug ingestion and
inhalation of toxic substances.
, Causes & Risk Factors
ARDS can be caused by any major swelling (inflammation) or injury to the lung. Some
common causes include:
● Breathing vomit into the lungs (aspiration)
● Inhaling chemicals
● Pneumonia
● Septic shock
● Trauma
ARDS leads to a buildup of fluid in the air sacs. This fluid prevents enough oxygen from
passing into the bloodstream.
The fluid buildup also makes the lungs heavy and stiff, and decreases the lungs’ ability to
expand. The level of oxygen in the blood can stay dangerously low, even if the person receives
oxygen from a breathing machine (mechanical ventilator) through a breathing tube
(endotracheal tube).
ARDS often occurs along with the failure of other organ systems, such as the liver or the
kidneys. Cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol use may be risk factors.
