Treating Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Talk with the doctor about the best plan for you. Treatment options include the following:

• Treating the underlying cause or injury
• Providing support until the lungs heal:
  • Mechanical ventilation-a machine to help you breathe through a tube placed in the mouth or nose, or through an opening created in the neck
  • Monitoring blood chemistry and fluid levels
  • Oxygen via a face mask or nasal prong

Often, ARDS patients are sedated to tolerate these treatments.