What is the Difference Between ARDS and Acute Respiratory Failure

Lung conditions are pathological conditions that affect the lungs. ARDS and acute respiratory failure are two related lung conditions as ARDS can lead to acute respiratory failure

The key difference between ARDS and acute respiratory failure is their cause. ARDS happens when lung swelling causes fluid to build up in the tiny elastic air sacs called alveoli in the lungs, while acute respiratory failure happens when the lungs cannot release enough oxygen into the blood, which prevents organs from properly functioning.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is ARDS  
3. What is Acute Respiratory Failure
4. Similarities – ARDS and Acute Respiratory Failure
5. ARDS vs Acute Respiratory Failure in Tabular Form
6. Summary – ARDS vs Acute Respiratory Failure
7. FAQ: ARDS and Acute Respiratory Failure

What is ARDS?

ARDS (Acute respiratory distress syndrome) is a lung condition that occurs when fluids build up in small air sacs or alveoli in the lungs. ARDS affects approximately 200,000 people in the United States and 3 million people worldwide every year. The causes of ARDS include sepsis, aspiration pneumonia, blood transfusions, COVID-19, pancreatitis, major trauma or burns, inhalation injury, drug overdose, and drowning or near drowning. Moreover, the symptoms of ARDS are severe shortness of breath, fast or rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, and bluish tint of the fingernails or lips (cyanosis).

Figure 01: ARDS

The diagnostic procedures that are used to detect ARDS are physical examination, chest X-ray, blood test, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, pulse oximetry, CT scan, and sampling of secretions from your airways. Furthermore, treatment for ARDS involves increasing oxygen levels in the blood through mechanical ventilation or oxygen therapy. The other treatments may include sedation, giving blood thinners, diuretics, medications to prevent fluid build-up, antibiotics to prevent infections, physical therapy, and pulmonary rehabilitation.

What is Acute Respiratory Failure?

Acute respiratory failure is due to the failure of the usual exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide (CO2) in the lungs. The potential causes of acute respiratory failure are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, spine conditions like scoliosis, inhalation injuries, nerve or muscle conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, stroke, drug or alcohol overdose, and trauma to the chest. Moreover, the possible symptoms of acute respiratory failure may include excessive sleepiness, a blue tinge in a person’s fingernails, lips, or skin, irregular heartbeat, fainting, confusion, rapid breathing, and shortness of breath.

Figure 02: Types of Respiratory Failure

Acute respiratory failure can be diagnosed through physical examination, arterial blood gas analysis, chest X-ray, pulse oximetry, capnometry, complete blood count, echocardiogram, pulmonary function test, electrocardiogram, and thyroid function tests. Furthermore, treatment options for acute renal failure may include oxygen therapy, medications such as antibiotics to treat infections, endotracheal intubation, diuretics to reduce fluid in the lungs and body, and resolving or reversing the underlying cause of respiratory failure.

Similarities Between ARDS and Acute Respiratory Failure

1. ARDS and acute respiratory failure are two associated lung conditions.
2. ARDS can lead to acute respiratory failure.
3. Both lung conditions may have similar symptoms, such as shortness of breath, bluish tint of the fingernails or lips, etc.
4. Both lung conditions can be diagnosed through physical examinations, blood tests, and imaging tests.
5. They can be treated through oxygen therapy and other specific medications.

Difference Between ARDS and Acute Respiratory Failure

Definition

1. ARDS is due to fluid building up inside the alveoli of the lungs, and surfactant breaks down.
2. Acute respiratory failure is due to air sacs of the lungs not being able to release enough oxygen into the blood.

Cause

1. ARDS is caused by an illness, such as a lung infection, breathing in smoke, and other illnesses or injuries that may trigger inflammation that damages the air sacs.
2. Acute respiratory failure is caused by obstruction, injury, ARDS, drug or alcohol use, chemical inhalation, stroke, and infection.

Signs and Symptoms

1. Symptoms of ARDS include shortness of breath, fast breathing, fast heart rate, blue fingernails or blue tone to the skin or lips, coughing that produces phlegm, extreme tiredness, fever, chest pain, crackling sound in the lungs, low blood pressure, and confusion.
2. Symptoms of acute respiratory failure include shortness of breath, a bluish coloration on lips, fingertips, or toes, drowsiness, difficulty performing routine activities such as dressing or climbing stairs, rapid breathing, confusion, blurred vision, and headaches.

Diagnosis

1. ARDS can be diagnosed by medical history, physical examination, blood test, other tests of blood oxygen levels, chest X-ray, CT scan and lung biopsy.
2. Acute respiratory failure can be diagnosed by personal or family health history, physical examination, pulse oximetry device, an arterial blood gas test, and chest X-ray.

Treatment

1. ARDS can be treated with oxygen therapy, breathing support (mechanical ventilation), giving medications such as acid-reducing medicines, antibiotics, blood thinners, muscle relaxants, sedatives, other treatments such as placing a feeding tube, blood transfusion, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), fluid management through an intravenous (IV) line and physical therapy.
2. Acute respiratory failure can be treated with supplementation of oxygen, prolonged ventilator support after a tracheostomy, exercise therapy, medications, such as antibiotics,  diuretics, endotracheal intubation and resolve the underlying cause.

The following table summarizes the difference between ARDS and acute respiratory failure.

Summary – ARDS vs Acute Respiratory Failure

ARDS and acute respiratory failure are two related lung conditions. ARDS can lead to acute respiratory failure if it is not properly managed. ARDS happens when lung swelling causes fluid to build up in the small air sacs called alveoli in the lungs. Acute respiratory failure is due to an inability to maintain adequate oxygenation for tissues or adequate removal of carbon dioxide from tissues in the body. This is the summary of the difference between ARDS and acute respiratory failure.

FAQ: ARDS and Acute Respiratory Failure

1. What causes ARDS?

• The causes of ARDS include sepsis, severe pneumonia, COVID-19, head, chest, or other major injury, breathing in harmful substances, and other conditions and treatments such as pancreatitis, severe burns, and massive blood transfusions.

2. What is the best treatment for ARDS?

• All ARDS patients must be given supplemental oxygen therapy, so they will be placed on a mechanical ventilator to help them breathe properly. Other treatment may include sedation, giving blood thinners, diuretics, medications to prevent fluid build-up, antibiotics to prevent infections, physical therapy, and pulmonary rehabilitation.

3. What are the causes of respiratory failure?

• Acute respiratory failure can be caused by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), drowning, pneumonia, and other lung diseases that can cause fluid buildup in the alveoli of the lungs.

4. What are the clinical indicators of acute respiratory failure?

• The clinical indicators of acute respiratory failure include difficulty with routine activities like taking a shower dressing, and climbing stairs due to extreme tiredness, drowsiness, shortness of breath, and a bluish color on the fingers, toes, and lips.

5. What is the immediate treatment for respiratory failure?

• If a person has an acute respiratory failure, they may receive oxygen therapy. There are different ways to get oxygen into the lungs. Other treatments include medications, such as antibiotics to treat infections, and diuretics to reduce the amount of fluid in the lungs and body, endotracheal intubation, and managing the underlying cause.

Reference:

1. “Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “What Is Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome?” National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Image Courtesy:

1. “ARDS” By Strolch – pathohistology photographical picture made by myself (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia

2. “RespiratoryFailureTypes” By Courseaccount333 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia

Related posts:

What is the Difference Between AstraZeneca and Pfizer Difference Between Pyelonephritis and Glomerulonephritis What is the Difference Between Catarrh and Coryza What is the Difference Between Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia What is the Difference Between Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis