Which of the following treatments is commonly utilized to improve oxygenation in ARDS?

Increasing PEEP (Positive End-Expiratory Pressure) is a well-established treatment modality utilized to improve oxygenation in patients experiencing Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). This approach works by preventing the collapse of alveoli during expiration, thereby enhancing functional residual capacity and improving overall lung compliance. When PEEP is applied, more alveoli remain open at the end of expiration, facilitating better ventilation-perfusion matching and increasing the surface area available for gas exchange.

As a result, this can help recruit collapsed lung units and improve oxygen delivery to the bloodstream, thereby addressing one of the primary challenges in ARDS, which is hypoxemia. The use of PEEP is particularly crucial in the context of ARDS, as these patients often have significant atelectasis and altered lung mechanics.

In contrast, decreasing FiO2 could potentially compromise oxygenation further, especially if baseline levels are already inadequate. Restricting fluid intake may be appropriate in some settings to manage fluid overload but does not directly address the gas exchange abnormalities intrinsic to ARDS. Administering beta-blockers generally does not have a role in the treatment of ARDS and could pose risks in this critically ill population.

Therefore, increasing PEEP is the most effective strategy among the