Introduction Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening, diffuse inflammatory pulmonary condition characterised by the Berlin criteria. Incidence of ARDS is estimated at 2.5–19% globally with high mortality and morbidity. Interest has been increasing in the use of inhaled sedatives because of a more rapid awakening and fewer adverse effects compared with intravenous propofol. The primary aim of this systematic review protocol is to investigate the length of critical care stay between ARDS patients who have been mechanically ventilated with inhaled anaesthetic sedatives (ie, sevoflurane and isoflurane) compared with those patients who are prescribed conventional sedatives (ie, propofol).

Methods and analysis Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid (Embase, MEDLINE), PubMed, EBSCO (CINAHL Plus), Google Scholar will be searched and stratified by the reviewers. The literature search will be limited to English articles. Published full text peer-reviewed articles will be included.

The International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) Registration number is: CRD42023390988.

Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval is not required for this systematic review. The results will be presented at local/regional meetings and dissemination will occur through peer-reviewed publication.