Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a prevalent and important cause of respiratory failure. Underlying causes include pulmonary and non-pulmonary aetiologies. ARDS is acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure associated with non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, reduced pulmonary compliance, and can lead to lung fibrosis. In addition to treating the underlying cause, often the mainstay of the management of ARDS is invasive mechanical ventilation. This can perpetuate lung injury—ventilator-associated lung injury (VALI). Despite recent advances in our understanding of this, ARDS-associated morbidity and mortality remains high. This chapter discusses the pathophysiology of ARDS and its management, including mechanical ventilation, adjunctive therapies, and some recently trialed pharmacotherapies.