n :  respiratory failure in adults or children that results from diffuse injury to the endothelium of the lung (as in sepsis, chest trauma, massive blood transfusion, aspiration of the gastric contents, or diffuse pneumonia) and is characterized by pulmonary edema with an abnormally high amount of protein in the edematous fluid and by respiratory distress and hypoxemia - abbr. ARDS - called also acute respiratory distress syndrome  .
 
 
 
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