Perfusion index as a predictor for optimum positive end -expiratory pressure in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome patients management

Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) with a condition called Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) — where the lungs become severely inflamed and fill with fluid — need help breathing through a ventilator. A key part of ventilator care is choosing the right level of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), which keeps the air sacs in the lungs open. This study is testing whether a simple monitoring tool — the perfusion index (a measure of blood flow) — can help doctors find the ideal PEEP setting more effectively. You may be eligible if: - You are between 18 and 65 years old - You are in the ICU with ARDS caused by a lung condition such as severe pneumonia You may NOT be eligible if: - Your ARDS was caused by a condition outside the lungs - You have a collapsed lung (pneumothorax) - You have a bleeding or clotting disorder - You have congestive heart failure or cardiogenic pulmonary oedema - You are haemodynamically unstable Talk to your doctor about whether this trial might be right for you.