True about ARDS are all except: March 2010

Ans. C: Recovery in terms of lung functions is poor in ARDS survivors Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by the development of sudden and severe breathlessness, hypoxemia and diffuse pulmonary infiltrate. Clinical Conditions Associated with Development of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Direct lung injury - Pneumonia (associated in nearly 40% cases) - Aspiration of gastric contents - Inhalation injury - Near drowning - Pulmonary contusion - Fat embolism Reperfusion pulmonary edema post lung transplantation or pulmonary embolectomy Indirect lung injury - Sepsis Severe trauma - Acute pancreatitis - Cardiopulmonary bypass - Massive transfusions - Drug overdose ARDS typically develops within 12-48 hours after the inciting event. Persons developing ARDS are critically ill, often with multisystem organ failure. ARDS is associated with severe and diffuse injury to the alveolar-capillary membrane of the lungs. Fluid accumulates in some alveoli of the lungs, while some other alveoli collapse. This alveolar damage impedes the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, which leads to a reduced concentration of oxygen in the blood. Low levels of oxygen in the blood cause damage to other vital organs of the body such as the kidneys. Acute respiratory distress syndrome is present if Pao2/Fio2 ratio Moality rates ranges from 41 to 65% with non pulmonary cases accounting for more than 80% of deaths. Advanced age is an impoant risk factor. Patient usually recover their maximum lung function within 6 months if they survive.