Patients with ARDS (PaO2/FiO2 < 300, bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on a CXR, no clinical evidence of left atrial hypertension or if measured a wedge < 18 mm Hg, excluding all patients with elevated ICP, neuromuscular, sickle cell, or severe chronic respiratory disease, obesity > 1 kg/cm height, or burns > 30% of BSA). . . […]