Diffuse alveolar damage (DAD):
Chapter: 12
(synonymous with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)): A descriptive term for a syndrome caused by diffuse alveolar capillary damage, characterized clinically by rapid onset of severe life-threatening respiratory insufficiency, cyanosis, and severe arterial hypoxemia that is refractory to oxygen therapy, and that frequently progresses to extrapulmonary multisystem organ failure. DAD is a well recognized complication of numerous diverse conditions, including both direct injuries to the lungs and systemic disorders; examples include diffuse pulmonary infections, smoke inhalation, oxygen, drug toxicity, aspiration, radiation, shock, sepsis, burns etc. The average mortality is 50%; but ranges from 10% to 90% depending on the cause and severity of the lung injury.
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