Diagnosis of ARDS involves a combination of clinical assessment, imaging studies, and laboratory tests. Key diagnostic criteria include:
1. Acute onset of respiratory distress within one week of a known clinical insult or new/worsening respiratory symptoms. 2. Bilateral opacities on chest imaging (e.g., chest X-ray or CT scan) not fully explained by effusions, lobar/lung collapse, or nodules. 3. Respiratory failure not fully explained by cardiac failure or fluid overload. 4. Objective assessment of oxygenation impairment (e.g., PaO2/FiO2 ratio).
