ARDS: One of the most serious life-threatening conditions

Rawalpindi:Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) that can be termed as one of the most serious life-threatening conditions particularly for critically ill patients, claims hundreds of lives every year in winter and according to health experts, the cause of death in the majority of cases is late presentation to intensive care unit.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is considered as one of the most devastating diseases of the lungs. Studies reveal that ARDS is diagnosed when a person develops sudden respiratory failure within 24 to 72 hours with dangerously low oxygen content and massive secretions in the lungs. Generally, such patients rarely respond to conventional treatments and their health deteriorates even after oxygen and other medications are given. Majority of the ARDS patients need mechanical ventilator support in ICU settings.

Experts believe that not only the general public but also a good number of general practitioners are unaware of various aspects of the disease that makes the situation more alarming. Experts say that to avoid late presentation and complications, a sufficient level of awareness must be created among the general public.

Data collected by ‘The News’ reveal that the cases of ARDS are being reported from this region of the country. Majority of the ARDS patients being reported are the ones having flu, pneumonia, chest infections and those suffering from serious ailments. Experts say that to prevent ARDS, people should get flu vaccination and those with pre existing lung diseases like asthma and COPD should get pneumonia vaccination as well.

Studies reveal that the ARDS patient has severe air hunger and suffocation that abruptly starts within a few hours and progresses rapidly. In ARDS, both the lungs are filled with fluid that clogs the airways drowning patients in their own secretions. The only way out is a high index of suspicion, early diagnosis and immediate treatment in an ICU. The ARDS patient needs ICU care.

Available data shows that the mortality rate of ARDS among ventilator supported patients is around 50 per cent while 90 to 100 per cent in non-ventilated patients in Pakistan. Studies reveal that the majority of patients who die of the ARDS are those suffering from asthma, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and diabetes along with critical complications. There are many other causes of ARDS like severe infections, sepsis, pancreatitis, burns etc but respiratory infections are the most common in winter.

The ARDS initially starts with lung failure but involves other organs including heart, liver, kidneys and brain by doing hypoxic ischemic damage in the body. Generally, it has been observed that young adults have better survival rates in ARDS as compared to children and elderly people. Experts advise that anyone, whether a healthy person or critically ill, developing the signs and symptoms of ARDS like air hunger and suffocation must report to the nearest tertiary care hospital immediately.