Diagnosis of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
If you suspect that someone you know has ARDS, you should call 911 or take them to the emergency room. ARDS is a medical emergency, and an early diagnosis may help them survive the condition.
A doctor can diagnose ARDS in several different ways. There’s no one definitive test for diagnosing this condition. The doctor may take a blood pressure reading, perform a physical exam, and recommend any of the following tests:
a blood test
a chest X-ray
a CT scan
throat and nose swabs
an electrocardiogram
an echocardiogram
an airway examination
Low blood pressure and low blood oxygen can be signs of ARDS. The doctor may rely on an electrocardiogram and echocardiogram to rule out a heart condition. If a chest X-ray or CT scan then reveals fluid-filled air sacs in the lungs, a diagnosis for ARDS is confirmed.