Suspect, investigate, and diagnose acute respiratory distress syndrome

Acute respiratory distress syndrome was first described in 1967 and has become a defining condition in critical care. Around 40% of patients with ARDS will die, and survivors experience long term sequelae. No drug treatments exist for ARDS, however good supportive management reduces harm and improves outcome. In this podcast, John Laffey, professor of anaesthesiology at St Michael’s Hospital, Toronto and Brian Kavanagh, clinician-scientist, intensive care medicine at the University of Toronto take us through the background to diagnosis and treatment of ARDS. Cheryl Misak, professor of philosophy at the University of Toronto, and survivor of ARDS, also joins us to explain how she has faired in recovery. Read the full easily missed article: http://www.bmj.com/content/359/bmj.j5055