Adult respiratory distress syndrome: mediators on the run.

The critical care nurse can no longer view adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) as a single organ dysfunction. ARDS may be the triggering event or the end result of a systemic inflammatory response. This article focuses on the research examining the cellular and humoral mediators precipitating the pathophysiologic processes seen in ARDS. An examination of assessment cues for early diagnosis and continued evaluation of the progression of acute lung injury and the systemic response are explored. Concluding the article is a critical analysis of supportive and experimental treatment modalities and their impact on patient outcome.