# Advances in Imaging and Physiology-Guided Personalized Care in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

**Authors:** Lucas Rodrigues Moraes, Pedro Leme Silva, Denise Battaglini, Patricia Rieken Macedo Rocco

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/medicina62020420 · 2026-02-23

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how personalized, physiology-based strategies can improve care for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

## Contribution

The paper highlights emerging approaches that integrate respiratory physiology into individualized ARDS management.

## Key findings

- Lung-protective ventilation and prone positioning remain core treatments for ARDS.
- Bedside tools like SpO2/FiO2 ratio and lung ultrasound aid in diagnosis and monitoring.
- Personalized strategies based on physiology may improve ARDS outcomes.

## Abstract

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a heterogeneous inflammatory lung injury marked by increased alveolar–capillary permeability, reduced respiratory system compliance, and impaired gas exchange. Despite advances in supportive care, ARDS remains associated with high mortality. Lung-protective ventilation with low tidal volumes and prone positioning is the cornerstone of treatment. However, these strategies do not fully account for patient-specific physiological variability. Recent guidelines emphasize a more individualized approach to respiratory support. Key elements include limitation of driving pressure, optimized use of high-flow nasal oxygen, and application of bedside tools such as the SpO2/FiO2 ratio and lung ultrasound. These measures improve diagnosis, monitoring, and physiological assessment at the bedside. This narrative review summarizes current evidence supporting contemporary ventilatory and non-invasive strategies in ARDS. It also examines emerging diagnostic and therapeutic approaches that integrate respiratory physiology into clinical decision-making. Finally, we discuss future directions focused on personalized, physiology-guided management to improve outcomes in patients with ARDS.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** acute respiratory distress syndrome (MONDO:0006502), ARDS (MONDO:0006502)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** APP (amyloid beta precursor protein) [NCBI Gene 351] {aka AAA, ABETA, ABPP, AD1, APPI, CTFgamma}
- **Diseases:** neuromuscular weakness (MESH:D009468), Neuromuscular blockade (MESH:D020879), Sepsis (MESH:D018805), COVID-19 (MESH:D000086382), cardiovascular complications (MESH:D002318), radiographic abnormalities (MESH:D000089202), alveolar collapse (MESH:D001261), barotrauma (MESH:D001469), ARDS (MESH:D012128), EIT (MESH:D004556), hypoxemia (MESH:D000860), respiratory acidosis (MESH:D000142), infiltrates (MESH:D017254), hypoxic (MESH:D002534), opacities (MESH:D003318), hypercapnic respiratory failure (MESH:D012131), hypercapnia (MESH:D006935), pneumonia (MESH:D011014), ML (MESH:D007859), paralysis (MESH:D010243), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (MESH:D029424), muscle weakness (MESH:D018908), pulmonary overdistension (MESH:D008171), VILI (MESH:D055397), HFNO failure (MESH:D051437), inflammatory lung injury (MESH:D055370), edema (MESH:D004487), IAH (MESH:D059325), cardiogenic pulmonary edema (MESH:D011654), muscle atrophy (MESH:D009133), inflammation (MESH:D007249), injury to (MESH:D014947), hypoventilation (MESH:D007040)
- **Chemicals:** carbon dioxide (MESH:D002245), FiO2 (-), rocuronium (MESH:D000077123), cisatracurium (MESH:C101584), Oxygen (MESH:D010100)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12942013