Complications
Since ARDS is an extremely serious condition which requires invasive forms of therapy it is not without risk. Complications to be considered are:
- Pulmonary: barotrauma (volutrauma), pulmonary embolism (PE), pulmonary fibrosis, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).
- Gastrointestinal: hemorrhage (ulcer), dysmotility, pneumoperitoneum, bacterial translocation.
- Cardiac: arrhythmias, myocardial dysfunction.
- Renal: acute renal failure (ARF), positive fluid balance.
- Mechanical: vascular injury, pneumothorax (by placing pulmonary artery catheter), tracheal injury/stenosis (result of intubation and/or irritation by endotracheal tube.
- Nutritional: malnutrition (catabolic state), electrolyte deficiency.
Read more about this topic: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome