Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Approximately 80% of COVID-19 infections do not require hospitalization; of those hospitalized, roughly 50–70% are being discharged. The cohort was dominated by severe oxygenation impairment on day 1. ARDS is a life-threatening acute respiratory failure syndrome marked by bilateral alveolar opacities and hypoxaemia. Historical data from ARDS of non-COVID etiologies shows modest but measurable decreases in forced vital capacity persisting after ICU discharge. ARDS is characterised by inflamed, oedematous lungs, alveolar-capillary leak, reduced lung volume, reduced compliance, and difficulty ventilating without causing additional harm. COVID-19 lung injury triggers a fibrotic phase that stiffens alveoli and parenchyma, substantially increasing the respiratory work required. Short-term mortality in ARDS remains as high as 40%. Patients with pre-existing lung conditions such as COPD or pulmonary fibrosis may be permanently pushed past the threshold for ventilator dependence by COVID-19 ARDS. Mechanical ventilation for ARDS produces some permanent reduction in lung function regardless of cause, though the magnitude is highly individual. ARDS can be caused by pneumonia, sepsis, trauma,…