CARDS vs ARDS – implications for respiratory support

Authors

Keywords:

acute respiratory distress syndrome, ARDS, COVID-19-associated ARDS, CARDS

Abstract

Based on a handful of early reports and anecdotal experience, experts hypothesised that severe COVID-19 pneumonia was clinically different from the more classical presentation of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), despite fulfilling the Berlin definition. The most striking difference noted was the dissociation of the severity of hypoxaemia and the compliance of the respiratory system (Crs). It was proposed that patients were presenting along a time-related spectrum with two distinct phenotypes at either end. Initially, type ‘L” is characterised by low elastance (high Crs), low lung weight, low right-to-left shunt, and low lung recruitment potential. With time, patients would eventually become type “H” with high elastance (low Crs), high lung weight (oedema), high right-to-left shunt with greater potential for lung recruitment and thus resemble classical ARDS. Subsequently, numerous studies have examined the mechanics and gas exchange of COVID-19 patients and have found no consistent relationships between hypoxaemia, recruitability and compliance. There was no convincing evidence found of a time-related spectrum of disease. In conclusion, despite significant variability, COVID-19 produces a clinical picture largely consistent with classical ARDS. Furthermore, the outcomes using traditional lung protective strategies have been acceptable and do not warrant change at this stage.

Author Biography

K D Naidoo, University of the Witwatersrand

Division of Critical Care, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

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Published

2020-11-17

Issue

Section

Paediatric Anaesthesia Community of South Africa 2020 Congress Supplement