ATS/ESICM/SCCM Guidelines on Management of ARDS in Adults

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an acute inflammatory lung injury that results in increased vascular permeability and is associated with many conditions, including sepsis, aspiration, pneumonia, severe trauma, and overdose. Its management remains largely supportive, with mechanical ventilation forming the cornerstone of therapy. American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM)/Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) have released latest Guidelines on Mechanical Ventilation in Adult Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.A multidisciplinary panel conducted systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the relevant research and applied Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology for clinical recommendations.They have been published in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Major recommendations

For all patients with ARDS:

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  Use lower tidal volumes of 4 to 8 mL/kg per breath, calculated using predicted body weight (PBW) (strong recommendation; moderate confidence in effect estimate).

  
  


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  Use lower inspiratory pressures, targeting a plateau pressure <30 cm H₂O (strong recommendation; moderate confidence).

  
  

For patients with severe ARDS (Pao₂/Fio₂ ratio <100):

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  Use prone positioning for at least 12 h/d (strong recommendation; moderate confidence).

  
  


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  Do not routinely use high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (strong recommendation; high confidence).

  
  


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  Additional evidence is needed to recommend for or against the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in severe ARDS.

  
  

The guideline strongly recommends lung-protective ventilation for all patients with ARDS, defined as targeting tidal volume of 4 to 8mL/kgPBW and a plateau pressure of less than 30cm H2O. The ARDS Net trial supporting this recommendation enrolled 861 patients and found a 22%relative reduction in mortality with tidal volumes of 6mL/kg PBWcompared with 12 mL/kg PBW.2 The guideline identified 8 other relevant trials.When all trials were included, the lung-protective approach was
associated with lower mortality (risk ratio [RR], 0.80; 95% CI, 0.66-0.98). Larger tidal volume differences between control and intervention groups were associated with larger improvements in mortality.
The guideline makes 2 important recommendations for severe ARDS, defined as a PaO2/FIO2 ratio of 100 or less. First, these patients should be placed in the prone position for at least 12 hours per day.The recommendation is based largely on the PROSEVA trial,which found that prone positioning reduced 28-day mortality from 32.8% to 16.0% (P < .001) in 466 patients with severe ARDS.4 This will be a practice change for many intensive care units (ICUs) and clinicians; moreover, implementing prone positioning can be logistically challenging.In addition, prone positioning may carry additional risks.

For Further Reference Log on to:

Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2017 May 1;195(9):1253-1263.DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201703-0548ST