Recent Advances in the Management of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Advances in management of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) include the use of volume and pressure-limited ventilation and a fluid conservative strategy. Despite the extensive study of positive end expiratory pressure, consensus regarding the best approach to its application is lacking. The use of neuromuscular blocking agents and prone positioning in the setting of refractory hypoxemia is supported by the outcomes of recent studies. Alternate modes of ventilation remain unproven. A focus on ARDS risk factor reduction and the development of tools predicting progression to ARDS have the potential to further reduce its incidence.