Acute Respiratory Distress (ARDS) · NCLEX Exam

A patient in ARDS with PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio of 120 despite high PEEP and low tidal volume ventilation might require which advanced intervention?

  1. Abruptly discontinue mechanical ventilation altogether
  2. Consider extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as salvage therapy
  3. Switch to high tidal volumes to drive down CO2
  4. Remove PEEP and sharply reduce the FiO2
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Correct answer: Consider extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as salvage therapy

In severe refractory hypoxemia ARDS, ECMO may be considered per guideline as rescue therapy when conventional lung-protective strategies fail.

Difficulty: Hard Question 14 of 14

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