What causes Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome?

ARDS can be caused by many types of injuries, including:

• Direct injury to the lungs:
  • Chest trauma, such as a heavy blow
  • Aspiration of stomach contents
  • Obstructed airways
  • High attitude disease
  • Tuberculosis
  • Oxygen toxicity
  • Radiation
  • Cardiopulmonary bypass
  • Breathing smoke, chemicals, or salt water
  • Burns
• Indirect injury to the lungs:
  • Severe infection
  • Massive blood transfusion
  • Pneumonia
  • Shock
  • Burn
  • Head trauma
  • Severe inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
  • Overdoses of alcohol or certain drugs(eg, aspirin, cocaine, opioids, phenothiazines, and tricyclic antidepressants)

ARDS may occur within few days of a lung or bone marrow transplantation.