There are no specific drugs or therapies available to directly treat/prevent ARDS. Mechanical ventilation with an aim to minimize Ventilator Induced Lung Injury (VILI) and management of refractory hypoxemia are the keystones in supportive management of ARDS.
Adult patients (≥18 years)
ICU admission, mechanical ventilation for < 7 days
ARDS diagnosed within 24 hours per the Berlin Definition, which includes Chest x-ray showing bilateral opacities, not fully explained by effusions, lung collapse; Respiratory failure not fully explained by cardiac failure or fluid overload, and exclusion of hydrostatic edema (by echocardiography);
Oxygenation and ventilator settings matching one of the three categories of ARDS: Mild: 200 mmHg < PaO2/FIO2 ≤ 300 mmHg with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) ≥ 5 cm H2O. Moderate: 100 mm Hg < PaO2/FIO2 ≤ 200 mm Hg with PEEP ≥ 5 cm H2O. Severe: PaO2/FIO2 ≤ 100 mm Hg with PEEP ≥ 5 cm H2O.
1- Pregnant Patient. 2- Refusal to participate in the trial by the patient's guardian. 3- Known allergy to furosemide or heparin. 4- Active major bleeding, recent intracranial hemorrhage 5- End-stage renal disease 6- Severe chronic liver disease. 7- Uncontrolled shock (e.g., high vasopressor doses). 8- Advanced directives limiting care (e.g., do-not-resuscitate orders), which could affect mortality outcomes.