ANCC Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam Prep

Answer - C - Type II alveolar cells are damaged as part of the ARDS cascade, leading to a decrease in surfactant production and alveolar collapse. Risk factors for developing this non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema include aspiration of gastric contents, all types of shock, oxygen toxicity, fat embolism, major trauma, smoke inhalation, multiple blood transfusions, viral pneumonia, and burns. The PCWP is elevated in pulmonary edema caused by CHF, but is normal in pulmonary edema caused by ARDS since the edema is not caused by a deficient heart muscle. ARDS has a high mortality rate.