Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome ARDS Post Trauma Score

A score for the Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) can be calculated as part of a Postinjury Multiple Organ Failure Score.

Parameters:

(1) pulmonary findings on plain chest radiograph

(2) hypoxemia as indicated by PaO2 / FIO2

(3) minute ventilation in liters per minute

(4) positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in cm H2O

(5) static compliance in mL per cm H2O

Parameter	Finding	Points
pulmonary findings on chest radiograph	normal	0
	diffuse, mild interstitial markings or opacities	1
	diffuse, marked interstitial and mild air-space opacities	2
	diffuse, moderate air-space consolidation	3
	diffuse, severe air-space consolidation	4
hypoxemia	PaO2/FIO2 > 250 mm Hg	0
	175 - 250 mm Hg	1
	125 - 174 mm Hg	2
	80 - 124 mm Hg	3
	< 80 mm Hg	4
minute ventilation	< 11 L/min	0
	11 - 13 L/min	1
	14 - 16 L/min	2
	17 - 20 L/min	3
	> 20 L/min	4
positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)	< 6 cm H2O	0
	6 - 9 cm H2O	1
	10 - 13 cm H2O	2
	14 - 17 cm H2O	3
	> 17 cm H2O	4
static compliance	> 50 mL/cm H2O	0
	40 - 50 mL/cm H2O	1
	30 - 39 mL/cm H2O	2
	20 - 29 mL/cm H2O	3
	< 20 mL/cm H2O	4

where:

• minute ventilation = (tidal volume in liters) * (respiratory rate in breaths/minute)

ARDS score =

= SUM(points for all 5 parameters)

Interpretation:

• minimum score 0

• maximum score 20

• The higher the score, the more severe the respiratory distress.

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ARDS Score in Postinjury Multiple Organ Failure