In work it is provided that early and productive detection of АRDS at patients is justified to carry out on the basis of the following data having diagnostic value which are rational for using in the following sequence: emergence time (the acute beginning within the first 72 hours), a disturbing factor, IO and also results of a  computer tomography of bodies of a  thorax. It is revealed that the radiographic research of lungs can be used in diagnostics of АRDS at patients as an auxiliary method, in combination with abovementioned criteria.