FISDAP Airway, Ventilation, and Respiratory Practice Test Prep and Study Guide

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious condition characterized by widespread inflammation in the lungs and significant impairment of oxygen exchange. One of the most common etiologies of ARDS is pneumonia or sepsis. Pneumonia can lead to severe lung inflammation and fluid accumulation in the alveoli, directly impacting the lungs’ ability to oxygenate blood. Sepsis, often a result of a severe infection, can induce systemic inflammation, leading to ARDS as a complication. Both conditions trigger the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms that culminate in the clinical picture of ARDS.

While conditions like coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and severe allergic reactions might cause respiratory distress under certain circumstances, they are not recognized as primary causes of ARDS. Thus, pneumonia and sepsis represent the most direct and frequent causes of this serious syndrome.