A life-threatening condition where the lungs can’t provide the body’s vital organs with enough oxygen.
This is because fluid builds up in the tiny, elastic air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs (this is where oxygen moves into ones blood from the lungs and carbon dioxide leaves the blood and is removed by the lungs takes place).
The fluid is from blood vessels in the lungs which begin to leak (i.e. from injury and/or virus damaging the blood vessels).
This fluid keeps your lungs from filling with enough air, which means less oxygen reaches your bloodstream. This then deprives your organs of the oxygen they need to function.
It’s usually a complication of a serious existing health condition i.e. infection and/or have severe lung injuries.
Oxygen Saturation test (via Oxygen level meter)
Oxygen saturation (SpO2) is an important diagnostic tool for COVID-19 pneumonia, and measures the amount of haemoglobin-bound oxygen and free oxygen.
The partial pressure of arterial O2 (PaO2) is measured by arterial blood gas monitoring. In healthy individuals, SpO2 is usually >95%.
In patients with chronic lung disease or sleep apnoea, SpO2 can range between 88–92%.
McNicholas W, Kent, Mitchell. Hypoxemia in patients with COPD: cause, effects, and disease progression. COPD 2011;:199. doi:10.2147/copd.s10611
In SARS-CoV-2 infection, patients have low SpO2 levels.
A phenomenon known as ‘silent hypoxia’ is reported, where patients present with minimal symptoms yet have significantly reduced pulse oximetry readings below 91%, particularly in the short term.
Attaway AH, Scheraga RG, Bhimraj A, et al. Severe covid-19 pneumonia: pathogenesis and clinical management. BMJ 2021;:n436. doi:10.1136/bmj.n436
Chandra A, Chakraborty U, Pal J, et al. Silent hypoxia: a frequently overlooked clinical entity in patients with COVID-19. BMJ Case Rep 2020;13:e237207. doi:10.1136/bcr-2020-237207
Poor memory and thinking clearly- due to low oxygen levels and sedation
Impaired hearing
Impaired vision
Scarring (pulmonary fibrosis)- Scarring and thickening of the tissue between the air sacs can occur within a few weeks of the onset of ARDS. This stiffens your lungs, making it even more difficult for oxygen to flow from the air sacs into your bloodstream.
Long lasting damage to lungs (while others make a good recovery).
For this condition an oxygen ventilator maybe used to provide more oxygen to ones lungs.
Complications include:
Pulmonary embolism– blood clots can form (in the vessels of your arms and/or legs) especially when on a ventilator and one is doing no form of exercise. The blood clot can break off and travel to the lungs.
Collapsed lung (pneumothorax) -A breathing machine called a ventilator is used to increase oxygen in the body and force fluid out of the lungs. however, the pressure and air volume of the ventilator can force gas to go through a small hole in the very outside of a lung and cause that lung to collapse.
Infections- Because the ventilator is attached directly to a tube inserted in your windpipe, this makes it much easier for germs to infect and further injure your lungs.
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
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