Differences in functional exercise capacity and pulmonary function tests between acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) of pulmonary and extrapulmonary origin

Treatment of ARDS with low volume tidal ventilation has shown improvement in survival rates as compared with traditional high tidal volume ventilation strategy. Nevertheles, respiratory morbidity, including impaired pulmonary function with obstructive and restricitive patterns, decreased DLCO diffusion and reduced exercise capacity have been described in survivors.