Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurs within a critically ill individual who demonstrates failures within breathing due to essential illnesses.  Though, acute respiratory distress syndrome is not defined as a precise disease and/or illness, “it is a life-threatening condition that occurs when there is a severe fluid buildup in both lungs.  The fluid buildup prevents the lungs from working properly – that is, allowing the transfer of oxygen from air into the body and carbon dioxide out of the body into the air (“ARDS Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome 2011).”  The irritation found within the lungs and buildup of several fluids in the alveoli leads to low blood oxygen levels.  Acute respiratory distress syndrome usually occurs in young individuals who are affected by major insults such as multiple trauma, sepsis and aspiration of gastric contents.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome generally begins to expand within 24 to 48 hours of the injury or illness of the patient, and the period and/or intensity of ARDS varies within the patient.  Also, the current mortality of acute respiratory distress syndrome remains moderately high at 35% to 50%.

Outcome in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is influenced by a number of factors, including the nature of the precipitating condition and the extent to which multiorgan failure ensues. Most studies of potential therapeutic interventions have been unsuccessful due to the enrollment of limited numbers of patients with a wide variety of pathologies of varying severity. Moreover, the value of initiating single-agent interventions at varying time points in what is an evolving and complex inflammatory process must be questioned (Evans 199).

Though there have been several “improvements in drug therapy, mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic management, more potent antibiotics, better prevention of complications (e.g., stress ulceration), better supportive care (e.g., nutrition), and more effective methods of weaning from ventilation (Russell and Walley 1999),” the mortality rate remains the same.  However, there are a number of indications that the mortality rate of ARDS may be decreasing.  “Despite these uncertainties, survival appears to be improving, possibly due to the application of-supportive techniques in a protocol driven fashion to patients in whom the underlying condition has been rigorously treated (Evans 1999).”

Nevertheless, on a positive note, “the quality of life for survivors of ARDS is good with generally very good to excellent return of pulmonary function, good return to quality of life in many, and even preliminary reports of excellent return of quality of life in most (Russell and Walley 1999).”

Common Symptoms Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

A number of early reports of Acute Respiratory Distress Symptom indicated that the majority of ARDS survivors were symptom free.  “ARDS can occur in people with or without a previous lung disease. People who have a serious accident with a large blood loss are more likely to develop ARDS. However, only a small portion of people who have problems that can lead to ARDS actually develop it (“ARDS Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome 2011).”  In several cases, a patient who is already being treated for another major illness may obtain acute respiratory distress syndrome.  As a result, doctors and other health care providers must focus on the symptoms of ARDS because, in some cases, the patient may be too weak and/or ill to complain or notice the symptoms identified.  The key symptoms of acute respiratory distress syndrome are shortness of breath, fast and labored breathing, a bluish skin color – due to a low level of oxygen in the blood – and/or a lower amount of oxygen in the blood.  If a patient shows signs of developing ARDS, doctors will do tests to confirm that ARDS is the problem (“ARDS Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome 2011).

The Outcome For Survivors

As more patients survive the acute respiratory distress syndrome, medical researchers have begun to gain an understanding of the long-term outcomes of this condition.  According to Herridge, et. al., patients who survived the acute respiratory distress syndrome have shown “persistent functional disability one year after discharge from the intensive care unit.  Most patients have extrapulmonary conditions, with muscle wasting and weakness being most prominent (2003).”  

Client

The patient currently being examined is a 61-year-old Caucasian male, and currently married with no children.  The patient’s occupation is a Long-Haul truck driver, who travels for an extensive amount of hours during the day.  The patient travels through the country and can spend up to three weeks, sometimes more, on the road.  The patient’s occupation may cause several stress factors, especially with his significant other.  The patient has demonstrated a history of hyperlipidemia within his previous medical accounts.  The patient has also demonstrated a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is a result of heavily smoking two packs of nicotine and tobacco substances daily for 45 years.  Currently, the patient is postoperative in a coronary artery bypass X 4.  No other significant medical history is shown.

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