17th January 2024

Management

The management of ARDS is largely supportive whilst treating the underlying condition. The vast majority of patients with ARDS require mechanical ventilatory support. The main principles of supportive management are as follows:

• Lung protective ventilation – the ventilation approach evidenced to produce the best mortality outcomes involves using lower tidal volumes of 6-8mL/kg to avoid barotrauma, as tolerated to maintain O2 saturations of 88-95%, with permissive hypercapnia.
• Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin
• Stress ulcer prophylaxis with a proton pump inhibitor, e.g., omeprazole
• Nutritional support with NG feeding (6)