DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i03.042

Pages: 1028-1032

Abstract: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is one of the major causes for acute respiratory failure characterized by bilateral chest infiltrates and decreased lung compliance. Several etiological factors cause ARDS, both direct and indirect injury to lungs. It has a high mortality rate. This study was a prospective observational study and included 50 patients with a diagnosis of ARDS. This study was undertaken to elucidate the causes and outcome of patients admitted with ARDS in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary care center. New Berlin criteria were used to classify them as Mild, Moderate and Severe ARDS. Severe ARDS was found in 30%, moderate ARDS in 58% and mild ARDS was seen in 12% of subjects. Pneumonia followed by tropical infections was the major etiological causes. Tropical infections contributed to 26% of ARDS, of which Dengue fever contributed to 12% of ARDS in the subjects and malaria was seen to be causing ARDS in 8% of subjects. Most of the patients (96%) required ventilator support, 52% of them requiring invasive ventilation and 44% requiring non – invasive ventilation. Mortality was 62% in this study. Higher mortality rates were seen in age groups above 40 years and males had slightly higher mortality rates than females. ABG (Arterial blood gas analysis) showed higher PaCO2 (partial pressure of carbon dioxide) and lower PaO2/FiO2 (PaO2-partial pressure of oxygen/ FiO2- fraction of inspired oxygen) were seen in non-survivor group. Tropical infections, especially in rural areas, contribute significantly to ARDS which needs to be stressed up on. These findings may help intensivists in instituting early effective empirical regimens depending on the regional tropical diseases.