The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe lung injury in patients with sepsis and other acute inflammatory insults, characterized by injury to the alveolar epithelial and endothelial barriers of the lung, acute inflammation, and protein rich pulmonary edema. Profound hypoxemia, noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, and poor lung compliance are seen. ARDS carries high morbidity and mortality rates. Considerable attention has been paid to ARDS over the last 20-30 years, not only in pathogenesis but also in many different therapy strategies. The goals of treatment of ARDS are to: (1) reverse the underlying condition leading to ARDS, (2) minimize acute lung injury, (3) maintain adequate tissue delivery of oxygen, and (4) avoid iatrogenic pulmonary complications. A substantial number of new therapies have been suggested and examined in recent years, many of which remain controversial. Physiologic, clinical, and radiologic manifestations and therapy options are outlined in this article.

Keywords: akut respiratuar distres sendromu, patogenez, tedavi, ARDS, pathogenesis, management