Adult respiratory distress syndrome: current concepts

Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a common diagnosis in today's intensive care units, representing a final common pathway of lung response to a variety of disease states. Mortality rates remain excessively high, despite comprehensive monitoring and intensive treatment. The incidence, etiology, clinical features, pathology and pathophysiology of ARDS are reviewed, with special emphasis on current research regarding potentially injurious mediators and possible etiopathogenetic mechanisms. Current therapy is summarized, and new therapeutic modalities are assessed. It is hoped that increased knowledge and awareness of the various aspects of ARDS will lead to further understanding and better clinical results in patients with this syndrome.