Acute respiratory distress syndrome
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Acute respiratory distress syndrome
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A 45-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department because of upper abdominal pain. She has nausea, vomiting, and anorexia. Medical history is contributory for gallstones. Patient's BMI is 39 kg/m2. Her temperature is 38°C (100.4°F), pulse is 107/min, respirations are 31/min, and blood pressure is 85/65 mm Hg. Physical examination shows an ecchymotic discoloration over the flanks. Alkaline phosphatase and serum lipase are both elevated. Which of the following is most likely an associated complication of this patient's condition?
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Content Reviewers:
Vincent Waldman, PhDContributors:
Marisa PedronAcute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, or ARDS, is exactly what it sounds like.
‘Acute’ means that it happens rapidly.
‘Respiratory distress’ means that a person becomes unable to breathe and oxygenate their blood, and ‘syndrome’ means that it is a group of symptoms that may be caused by any number of underlying conditions.
In ARDS, the alveoli and the capillaries that surround them - the site of gas exchange in the lungs - are damaged by an inflam