Acute Lung Injury

Acute lung injury (ALI) is defined as the acute onset of impaired gas exchange (the ratio of the partial pressure of arterial oxygen in millimeters of mercury to the FiO2 of <300) and the presence of bilateral alveolar or interstitial infiltrates in the absence of congestive heart failure.

Common causes of ARDS are

1. sepsis (with or without a pulmonary source),
2. trauma, aspiration,
3. multiple blood transfusions,
4. pancreatitis,
5. inhalation injury, and
6. certain types of drug toxicity.