Project 451840

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a devastating condition that results in the loss of normal lung function, and these patients often require life support with a breathing machine (ventilator) to support their breathing. Currently, there are no specific medications to treat this syndrome, and the only beneficial treatment is setting the ventilator to deliver small breaths to the injured lungs. The use of the ventilator for the intentional and controlled delivery of small breaths is often uncomfortable for patients, and they require sedatives/pain medications, and sometimes muscle relaxants, to prevent them from taking their own breaths. However, these medications and this strategy can lead to important side effects, which may contribute in long term complications, such as muscle weakness, in survivors. This study will determine whether the use of a new strategy employing an artificial lung (i.e., extracorporeal membrane oxygenation - abbreviated ECMO) will allow clinicians to safely manage patients with ARDS without sedatives or muscle relaxants earlier, allowing them to be off the ventilator and participate in rehabilitation sooner. The results of this study will help clinicians determine the safest way to manage patients with ARDS that will lead to the best short- and long-term outcomes.