ABSTRACT
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the extreme form of acute lung injury (ALI), is a major cause and complication of ICU admission. It may be suspected if:
n there are increasing oxygen needs and difficulties ventilating; n airway pressures rise and/or tidal volumes fall; n there is new left ventricular failure; n PaO2/FiO2 ratio is below 27 kPa (300 mmHg); n bilateral infiltrates show on chest X-ray.
