ARDS (cont.)
What Causes ARDS?
The causes of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are not well
understood. It can occur in many situations and in persons with or without a
lung disease.
There are two ways that lung injury leading to ARDS can occur: through a
direct injury to the lungs, or indirectly when a person is very sick or has a
serious bodily injury. However, most sick or badly injured persons do not
develop ARDS.
Direct Lung Injury
A direct injury to the lungs may result from breathing in harmful substances
or an infection in the lungs. Some direct lung injuries that can lead to ARDS
include:
- Breathing in vomited stomach contents
- Breathing in harmful fumes or smoke
- A severe blow to the chest or other accident that bruises the lungs
Indirect Lung Injury
Most cases of ARDS happen in people who are very ill or who have been in a
major accident. This is sometimes called an indirect lung injury. Less is known
about how indirect injuries lead to ARDS than about how direct injuries to the
lungs cause ARDS. Indirect lung injury leading to ARDS sometimes occurs in cases
of:
- Severe and widespread bacterial infection in the body (sepsis)
- Severe bleeding requiring blood transfusions
It is not clear why some very sick or seriously injured people develop ARDS,
and others do not. Researchers are trying to find out why ARDS develops and how
to prevent it.
Next: Who is at risk for ARDS? »
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