How Is ARDS Diagnosed?
Your doctor will diagnose ARDS based on your medical
history, a physical exam, and results from tests.
Medical History
Your doctor will ask about conditions you may have
or have recently had that can lead to ARDS. For a list of these conditions, see
"Who Is At Risk for ARDS?" Your doctor also
will ask whether you have heart problems, such as
heart
failure, which can cause fluid to build up in your lungs.
Physical Exam
ARDS may cause abnormal breathing sounds, such as
crackling. Your doctor will listen to your lungs with a stethoscope to hear
these sounds.
He or she also will listen to your heart and look
for signs of extra fluid in other parts of your body. Extra fluid may mean you
have heart or kidney problems.
Your doctor will look for a bluish color on your
skin and lips. A bluish color means your blood has a low level of oxygen. This
is a possible sign of ARDS.
Diagnostic Tests
Diagnostic tests are used to find the cause of your
symptoms. You may have ARDS, or you may have another condition that causes
similar symptoms.
Initial Tests
The first tests done are:
- An arterial blood gas test. This blood test shows
the oxygen level in your blood. A low level of oxygen in the blood may be a
sign of ARDS.
- Chest x ray. This test is used to take a picture
of your lungs. It can show whether you have extra fluid in your lungs.
- Blood tests, such as a complete blood count,
blood chemistries, and blood cultures. These tests help find the cause of ARDS,
such as an infection.
- Sputum cultures. This test looks at the spit
you've coughed up from your lungs. It can help find the cause of an
infection.
Other Tests
Other tests used to diagnose ARDS include:
- Computed tomography (to-MOG-rah-fee), or CT,
scan. This test uses a computer to take detailed pictures of your lungs. It may
show lung problems, such as fluid in the lungs, signs of pneumonia, or a lung
tumor.
- Heart tests that look for signs of heart failure.
Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can't pump blood the way it
should. This condition can cause fluid to build up in your lungs.
|