Abstract
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains an important clinical entity in
the intensive care unit with a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Effective
therapeutic interventions are limited; thus current research focus has shifted from
treatment to the prevention of this pulmonary syndrome. In recent decades, a decrease
in the incidence of ARDS has been observed and this reduction is largely due to preventive
strategies including safe lung ventilation practices, avoidance of iatrogenic exposures,
and improvement in care of predisposing conditions such as sepsis and pneumonia. Early
identification of at-risk patients, prompt treatment of predisposing conditions, and
adoption of evidence-based best practice including restrictive transfusion strategies,
conservative fluid management, avoidance of large tidal volume ventilation, and aspiration
precaution practices are key preventive strategies with demonstrated benefits. There
are currently no effective pharmacological preventive strategies for ARDS.
Keywords
acute respiratory distress syndrome - acute lung injury - prevention