Treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
There are currently no licensed pharmacological therapies for ARDS, although there are a number of novel agents under development. Appropriate treatment of risk factors including pneumonia, non-pulmonary sepsis (e.g. peritonitis), aspiration of gastric contents, major trauma, transfusion, and acute pancreatitis. Protective mechanical ventilation using tidal volumes of 6 mL/kg predicted body weight (PBW), and a plateau pressure less than 30 cmH2O, confers a mortality benefit, and should be undertaken whenever possible Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation & extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal have not been proved to be of universal benefit in ARDS, although it is possible that there may be sub-populations of ARDS patients (e.g.H1N1 influenza patients and ECMO ) that derive benefit from these interventions. Fluid restriction , after patients are appropriately resuscitated, is probably of benefit. There is no evidence to support a specific feeding regimen in ARDS ...