Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome - Cause

Cause

Three clinical settings account for 75% of ARDS cases:

1. Sepsis syndrome - most important cause

2. Severe multiple trauma

3. Aspiration of saliva/gastric contents and it could also be a complication of pneumonia if left untreated known as aspiration pneumonia.

Some cases of ARDS are linked to large volumes of fluid used during resuscitation post trauma. Other causes include shock, near-drowning, multiple transfusions and inhalation of irritants or toxic fumes that damage the alveolar epithelium.