Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

Dear Colleagues,

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe, life-threatening pathology which is characterized by the sudden and rapid onset of respiratory failure. It is caused by a spectrum of conditions with different etiologies with common clinical and pathological characteristics and it requires prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

One of the current and novel challenges of diagnosis is ARDS phenotyping. This new area of research could provide us with a way to individualize and personalize the management of these patients, thus improving their prognosis.

In addition, novelties in this management have led to the development of lung-protective strategies to reduce stress and strain (such as lower tidal volume and plateau pressure) and to improve oxygenation (prone position). These strategies are clearly recommended with a high level of evidence. In some cases, advanced interventions like extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) might be necessary to provide temporary respiratory support. The overall prognosis of ARDS depends on various factors such as the underlying cause, the severity of lung injury, and a timely initiation of the appropriate treatment.

However, there are still many conclusions on the diagnosis and treatment of ARDS that “we are unable to recommend” since their level of evidence is very low, although we are using them as a usual treatment in our ICUs. In fact, we need to insist on the importance of pursuing research to increase this level of confidence, ultimately improving the quality of patient care.

The present Special Issue on “Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment” welcomes the submission of work related to the most recent developments in experimental and clinical intensive care, addressing innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to treat ARDS. We invite all researchers of associated disciplines who focus on ARDS to submit original articles or reviews in their area of expertise.

Dr. Javier García-Fernández
Guest Editor

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• acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
• mechanical ventilation
• extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
• prone position
• non-invasive ventilation
• ARDS Diagnosis
• ARDS treatment
• prognosis