Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

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ARDS Causes

There are a number of underlying conditions that can lead to ARDS. However, in most cases, people with these conditions do not develop ARDS. It is not clear why some people are at a higher risk than others.

Causes of ARDS include the following:

• Serious infection in the blood or other tissues (called sepsis; accounts for more than 30% of cases)
• Severe chest trauma
• Severe lung infection (e.g., bacterial or viral pneumonia)
• Inhalation of vomited stomach contents
• Inhalation of smoke or other toxic fumes
• Fat embolis (globule of fat that blocks an artery)
• Near drowning
• Massive blood transfusion
• Cardiopulmonary bypass surgery
• Ingestion of certain drugs
• Acute pancreatitis

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