ARDS 60th anniversary: spontaneous breathing in ARDS - Report - MDSpire

ARDS 60th anniversary: spontaneous breathing in ARDS

  • By

  • Jean-Christophe Marie Richard

  • Tommaso Mauri

  • Jean-Christophe Richard

  • July 13, 2026

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Clinical Report: The Role of Spontaneous Breathing in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Overview

Spontaneous breathing in ARDS patients poses risks such as patient self-inflicted lung injury (P-SILI) if inspiratory efforts exceed safe limits.

Background

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a critical condition with high mortality rates, affecting approximately 200,000 individuals annually in the United States. The management of ARDS has evolved, with a focus on lung protective ventilation strategies. Understanding the role of spontaneous breathing is essential, as it may introduce potential risks.

Data Highlights

No numerical data available in the source material.

Key Findings

  • Approximately two-thirds of patients intubated for ARDS exhibit spontaneous breathing during the early phase.
  • Excessive inspiratory efforts can lead to patient self-inflicted lung injury (P-SILI).
  • Inspiratory efforts should remain within safe limits to avoid complications such as atelectrauma and barotrauma.

Clinical Implications

Monitoring inspiratory effort is crucial to prevent complications like P-SILI.

Conclusion

Spontaneous breathing in ARDS requires careful monitoring to mitigate risks.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Intensive Care Medicine, 2023 -- The emerging role of diaphragm neurostimulation in ARDS
  2. Critical Care (Springer), 2023 -- Toward optimal mechanical ventilation of the injured lung: the role of expiratory duration
  3. Critical Care (Springer), 2023 -- Lung-protective ventilation strategy in acute respiratory distress syndrome: a critical reappraisal of current practice
  4. An Update on Management of Adult Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline - PMC, 2024
  5. ESICM guidelines on acute respiratory distress syndrome: definition, phenotyping and respiratory support strategies - PMC, 2023
  6. Intensive Care Medicine — Beyond binary: rethinking subphenotyping in ARDS as a continuous spectrum
  7. New Global Definition of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
  8. Pressure control plus spontaneous ventilation versus volume assist-control ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome. A randomised clinical trial
  9. An Update on Management of Adult Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline - PMC
  10. ESICM guidelines on acute respiratory distress syndrome: definition, phenotyping and respiratory support strategies - PMC
  11. Physiologic Comparison of Airway Pressure Release Ventilation and Low Tidal Volume Ventilation in ARDS: A Randomized Controlled Trial - ScienceDirect
  12. High-Flow Nasal Oxygen vs Noninvasive Ventilation in Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure: The RENOVATE Randomized Clinical Trial | Trials | JAMA | JAMA Network
  13. Patient self-inflicted lung injury and the dangers of the transition phase | American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine | Oxford Academic

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