Respiratory Distress Syndrome

ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME (RDS) IS AN ACUTE LUNG DISEASE. IT IS MAINLY AFFECTS ADULTS AND IS BROUGHT ABOUT WHEN THE LUNGS BECOME SERIOUSLY DAMAGED THROUGH SEVERE INJURY OR INFECTION.

ARDS OCCURS AS RESULT OF DIFFUSE ALVEOLAR DAMAGE. INFLAMMATORY TRIGGERS INITIATE THE RELEASE OF CELLULAR AND CHEMICAL MEDIATORS, CAUSING INJURY TO THE ALVEOLAR CAPILLARY MEMBRANE IN ADDITION TO OTHER STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE LUNGS. SEVERE VENTILATION PERFUSION MISMATCHING OCCURS. ALVEOLI COLLAPSE BECAUSE OF THE INFLAMMATION INFILTRATE, BLOOD, FLUID, AND SURFACTANT DYSFUNCTION. SMALL AIRWAYS ARE NARROWED BECAUSE OF INTERSTITIAL FLUID AND BRONCHIAL OBSTRUCTION. LUNG COMPLIANCE MAY MARKEDLY DECREASE, RESULTING IN

ARDS CAN BE CAUSED BY INFLAMMATION OR INJURY TO THE LUNGS. SOME COMMON CAUSES INCLUDE:  ASPIRATION  INHALING CHEMICALS  PNEUMONIA  SEPTIC SHOCK  TRAUMA  ARDS LEAD TO A BUILDUP OF FLUID IN THE AIR SACS. THIS FLUID PREVENTS ENOUGH OXYGEN FROM PASSING INTO THE BLOODSTREAM.  THE FLUID BUILDUP ALSO MAKES THE LUNGS HEAVY AND STIFF AND DECREASES THE LUNGS ABILITY TO EXPAND. THE LEVEL OF OXYGEN IN BLOOD CAN STAY DANGEROUSLY LOW EVEN IF THE PERSON RECEIVES OXYGEN FROM MECHANICAL
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` OFTEN

OCCURS ALONG WITH THE FAILURE OF OTHER ORGAN SYSTEM, SUCH AS THE LIVER OR THE KIDNEYS. ` CIGARETTE SMOKING AND HEAVY ALCOHOL USE MAY BE RISK FACTORS.

SYMPTOMS OF ARDS INCLUDE:  BLUE-COLORED LIPS, FINGERS AND TOES.  RAPID, SHALLOW BREATHING.  BREATHING THAT BECOMES INCREASINGLY LABORED AND DIFFICULT.  RAPID HEARTBEAT.  TIREDNESS WHICH IS USUALLY FOLLOWED BY DROWSINESS OR CONFUSION.
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THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT ARDS IS TO AVOID THOSE DISEASE AND HARMFUL CONDITIONS THAT DAMAGE THE LUNGS. ANY FORM OF LUNGS INFECTION OR INFECTION ANYWHERE IN THE BODY THAT GET INTO BLOOD MUST BE TREAT PROMPTLY TO PREVENT LUNGS INJURY THAT CAUSE ARDS.

A BREATHING MACHINE IS USED TO DELIVER HIGH DOSES OF OXYGEN AND A CONTINUOUS LEVEL OF PRESSURE CALLED PEEP (POSITIVE END-EXPIRATORY PRESSURE) TO THE DAMAGED LUNGS. PATIENTS OFTEN NEED TO BE DEEPLY SEDATED WITH MEDICATIONS WHEN USING THIS EQUIPMENT.

NURSING ASSESSMEN T SPO2 : 90%

NURSING DIAGNOSE SHORTNESS OF BREATHING RELATED TO THE LUNGS INABILITY TO EXPAND.

PLAN

NURSING INTERVENTI ON

NURSING EVALUATIO N

PATIENT 1. ASSESS WILL THE MAINTAIN A SPO2. NORMAL 2. POSITIO SPO2 RATE N THE OF 95%PATIEN 100%. T IN PRONE POSITIO N. 3. GIVE OXYGEN AS PRESCRI BED. 4. ASSESS THE