ARDS

Medical abbreviation · Respiratory

ARDS
Stands forAcute respiratory distress syndrome
CategoriesMedical

ARDS stands for Acute respiratory distress syndrome, a respiratory abbreviation.

Severe, rapidly developing lung injury in which inflammation makes the lungs leaky, filling air sacs with fluid and causing profound low oxygen and stiff lungs. Common triggers include pneumonia, sepsis, aspiration, trauma, pancreatitis and massive transfusion.

Example: ARDS from aspiration, P/F ratio 92 on PEEP 14: prone positioning and low tidal volume ventilation.

Usage notes

First described by Ashbaugh and colleagues in 1967. The 2012 Berlin definition grades severity by the PaO2/FiO2 ratio on at least 5 cm H2O of PEEP: mild 200 to 300, moderate 100 to 200, severe 100 or less. Ventilation with low tidal volumes (6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) cut mortality in a landmark 2000 trial, and prone positioning helps severe cases. Survivors often have long-term weakness and cognitive problems.

More respiratory abbreviations

  • AECOPD – Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • AERD – Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease
  • AHI – Apnea-hypopnea index
  • AHRF – Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure
  • APAP – Automatic positive airway pressure
  • APRV – Airway pressure release ventilation
  • ARF – Acute respiratory failure
  • ATS – American Thoracic Society
  • BAL – Bronchoalveolar lavage
  • BiPAP – Bilevel positive airway pressure
  • BOOP – Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia
  • BPD – Bronchopulmonary dysplasia

See all 109 respiratory abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.