Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe and life-threatening form of acute respiratory failure characterized by sudden and rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs, leading to compromised oxygenation and respiratory function. ARDS typically occurs in response to various direct or indirect lung injuries, such as pneumonia, sepsis, trauma, aspiration of gastric contents, or inhalation injury, triggering an exaggerated inflammatory response and disruption of the alveolar-capillary barrier.