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Acute respiratory distress syndrome
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In acute respiratory distress syndrome, shortened to ARDS, fluid collects inside the injured alveoli, those tiny sacs in the lung.
With fluid where there should be air, gas exchange is disrupted, meaning the passage of oxygen from the alveoli into the blood. It is like a sponge whose holes have filled with water: oxygen crosses only with difficulty, and the amount of oxygen in the blood falls.
In brief
In acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS, fluid builds up in the injured alveoli.
That fluid impairs gas exchange, making it harder for oxygen to move from the alveoli into the bloodstream and lowering the level of oxygen in the blood.
Sources (1)
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteWhat Is Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome?Published
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
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