Interdisciplinary Management of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Collaborative Roles of Pharmacists, Nurses, and Radiologists in Optimizing Patient Outcomes
Abstract
Background: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition characterized by rapid-onset, diffuse inflammatory lung injury, leading to severe hypoxemia, bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, and reduced lung compliance. It arises from diverse pulmonary or systemic insults and progresses through exudative, proliferative, and fibrotic phases, resulting in significant mortality and long-term morbidity.
Aim: This article comprehensively reviews the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and, primarily, the interdisciplinary management of ARDS. It aims to detail evidence-based supportive strategies and the collaborative roles of the healthcare team in optimizing patient outcomes.
Methods: A detailed review of ARDS was conducted, encompassing its etiology, epidemiology, and histopathology. The core management strategies analyzed are centered on lung-protective mechanical ventilation—using low tidal volumes and limiting plateau pressure—supplemented by adjunctive therapies and systematic supportive care.
Results: The cornerstone of ARDS management is lung-protective ventilation, which improves survival. Key adjuncts include prone positioning for severe hypoxemia and a conservative fluid strategy after initial resuscitation. While rescue therapies like extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are available for refractory cases, they require careful patient selection. Pharmacologic therapies, notably corticosteroids, have a limited and nuanced role. A coordinated, interprofessional approach is critical to implement these strategies effectively and prevent complications.
Conclusion: ARDS management is fundamentally supportive, focusing on preventing further lung injury while allowing for healing. Outcomes are optimized through the strict application of a lung-protective ventilation bundle, timely adjunctive therapies, and meticulous interdisciplinary care to manage complications and support recovery.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Muruj Saleh Mohammed Basamad, Majed Nassar Alnassar, Taghreed Mohammed Hamuod Nahari , Bandar Ali Shrahi, Mohammed Hassan Alhazmi, Thaar Ayed Almutairi, Fawaz Nawaf ALonazi , Saad Abduallh Alanazi, Amunah Wali Hakami, Abdulrahman Abdullah Othman Barakat, Faten Essa Salamah Alamri, Hoseen Mohammed Alsloom
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