Pulmonary edema

Pulmonary edema , also known as pulmonary congestion, is excessive <a href="/facts/Edema/Q6MI3KdH">fluid accumulation</a> in the <a href="/facts/Parenchyma/NlGkFWlQ">tissue</a> or <a href="/facts/Pulmonary_alveolus/aEHP1ATT">air spaces</a> (usually <a href="/facts/Alveoli/sajmDnwH">alveoli</a>) of the <a href="/facts/Lung/gTWXI6Fj">lungs</a>. This leads to impaired <a href="/facts/Gas_exchange/3vUewPNH">gas exchange</a>, most often leading to <a href="/facts/Shortness_of_breath/1jBfFzxU">shortness of breath</a> (<a href="/facts/Dyspnea/1jBfFzxU">dyspnea</a>) which can progress to <a href="/facts/Hypoxemia/n1cqE0JW">hypoxemia</a> and <a href="/facts/Respiratory_failure/R3GcdkJ1">respiratory failure</a>. Pulmonary edema has multiple causes and is traditionally classified as <a href="/facts/Cardiogenic/fF4KSGdk">cardiogenic</a> (caused by the heart) or noncardiogenic (all other types not caused by the heart).
Various laboratory tests (<a href="/facts/Complete_blood_count/NF9lNJL3">CBC</a>, <a href="/facts/Troponin/gQdzvCCb">troponin</a>, <a href="/facts/Brain_natriuretic_peptide_32/KRRcYBPG">BNP</a>, etc.) and imaging studies (<a href="/facts/Chest_radiograph/BUExu2WY">chest x-ray</a>, CT scan, <a href="/facts/Ultrasound/31Pa5IH9">ultrasound</a>) are often used to diagnose and classify the cause of pulmonary edema. 
Treatment is focused on three aspects: 

<ul><li>improving respiratory function,</li>
<li>treating the underlying cause, and</li>
<li>preventing further damage and allow full recovery to the lung.</li></ul>
Pulmonary edema can cause permanent organ damage, and when sudden (acute), can lead to <a href="/facts/Respiratory_failure/R3GcdkJ1">respiratory failure</a> or <a href="/facts/Cardiac_arrest/HIAm9AWX">cardiac arrest</a> due to <a href="/facts/Hypoxia_(medical)/JWV04G89">hypoxia</a>. The term edema is from the <a href="/facts/Greek_language/pzDd6eIz">Greek</a> οἴδημα (oidēma, "swelling"), from οἰδέω (oidéō, "(I) swell").

Pulmonary edema open-in-new

Pulmonary edema