Which of these is NOT a typical cause of ARDS?

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs, leading to severe respiratory failure. Sepsis, pneumonia, and aspiration are indeed common precipitating factors for ARDS due to their ability to cause lung injury, increased permeability of the alveolar-capillary membrane, and resultant fluid accumulation in the lungs.

Cardiac failure, while it can lead to pulmonary edema and respiratory symptoms, typically does not directly cause ARDS. Instead, when fluid overload occurs due to heart failure, it results in different pathophysiological conditions that can affect lung function but do not meet the criteria for ARDS. Thus, cardiac failure is not considered a typical cause of ARDS when looking at its primary etiologies, which are primarily inflammatory in nature.

Understanding the distinct nature of the underlying processes is crucial for recognizing the typical causes of ARDS, as this helps in both diagnosis and management strategies for patients presenting with respiratory distress.