Respiratory Distress Syndrome – ORDS – Acute respiratory distress syndrome – Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema

Description respiratory distress syndrome

Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) It is a form of lung failure. It – a life-threatening lung disease. RDS can occur in patients with or injured people. This is not a specific disease.

RDS begins to develop from tiny blood vessels in the lungs. These vessels in the lung fluid passed bags. The presence of liquid reduces the ability of the lungs to provide oxygen to the body.

ARDS can develop at any age one year.

If there is a suspicion of this syndrome, you should immediately go to the hospital.

Causes respiratory distress syndrome

ARDS can be caused by many reasons, including:

• Direct lung injury:
  • Injuries to the thorax, eg, on the bounce;
  • Aspiration of gastric contents;
  • Upper respiratory tract infection;
  • Tuberculosis;
  • Oxygen poisoning;
  • Radiation;
  • Smoke inhalation, Chemicals, or saltwater;
  • Burns;
• Indirect lung damage:
  • Severe infection;
  • Blood transfusion;
  • Pneumonia;
  • Burn;
  • Head injury;
  • Severe inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis);
  • An overdose of alcohol or medication (aspirin, cocaine, Opiates, phenothiazines, and tricyclic antidepressants).

RDS can occur within a few days after lung transplantation or bone marrow transplantation.

Risk factors for respiratory distress syndrome

Factors, which increase the risk of respiratory distress syndrome:

• Cigarette smoking;
• Chronic lung disease;
• Age older 65 years.

Symptoms of respiratory distress syndrome

The presence of the following symptoms are not always indicative of the presence of respiratory distress syndrome. These symptoms may be caused by other factors:

• Breathlessness;
• Frequent, labored breathing;
• Bluish color of the skin or nails;
• Rapid pulse;
• Elevated temperature;
• Chills;
• Muscle pain or weakness;
• Headache;
• Dry cough.

Symptoms often develop within 24-48 hours after injury.

Diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome

The doctor may suspect when RDS:

• Man, suffering from severe infection or injury experienced breathing problems;
• CXR reveals the presence of fluid in the lungs of both air sacs;
• Blood tests show a dangerously low level of oxygen in the blood;

Conducted a physical inspection. People, who develop RDS, may be too sick, and do not see the symptoms. If a patient shows signs of developing RDS, conducted tests, which may include:

• Checking blood pressure;
• Blood tests – to see the level of oxygen, signs of infection (viral or bacterial), and cardiac failure;
• Chest X-ray;
• Swabs from the nose and throat to detect viruses;
• Sometimes an echocardiogram done (cardiac ultrasound), to prevent congestive heart failure;
• Pulmonary artery catheterization, to assist in diagnosing;
• Bronchoscopy, to analyze respiratory tract – laboratory examination may indicate presence of certain viruses or cancer cells;
• Lung biopsy in cases, when the diagnosis is difficult to establish.

Treatment of Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Treatment options include the following:

• Treatment of the underlying disease or injury;
• Support to cure lung:
• Mechanical ventilation – apparatus, designed to help the patient breathe through a tube in the mouth or nose, or through the opening in the neck (tracheotomy);
• Monitoring vital parameters;
• Oxygen through a mask or nasal passage.

Often, patients with ARDS prescribed sedatives before the procedure.

Prevention of acute respiratory distress syndrome

To reduce the risk of ARDS, It needs time to heal any direct or indirect lung injury.