pulmonary edema

Examples of pulmonary edema in the following topics:

• Pulmonary Edema

  • Pulmonary edema is fluid accumulation in the air spaces and parenchyma of the lungs.
  • It is due to either failure of the left ventricle of the heart to adequately remove blood from the pulmonary circulation ("cardiogenic pulmonary edema") or an injury to the lung parenchyma or vasculature of the lung ("noncardiogenic pulmonary edema").
  • Pulmonary edema, especially in the acute setting, can lead to respiratory failure, cardiac arrest due to hypoxia, and death.
  • There is no one single test for confirming that breathlessness is caused by pulmonary edema.
  • Interstitial and alveolar pulmonary edema with small pleural effusions on both sides.

• Edema

  • Causes of edema which are generalized to the whole body can cause edema in multiple organs and peripherally.
  • For example, severe heart failure can cause pulmonary edema, pleural effusions, ascites, and peripheral edema.
  • For example, severe heart failure can cause pulmonary edema, pleural effusions, ascites, and peripheral edema.
  • Edema is more common with those of a history of pulmonary problems or poor circulation, and may be affected by the presence of arthritis.
  • Examples of edema in specific organs include cerebral edema, pulmonary edema, periorbital edema (eye puffiness), and cutaneous edema due to mosquito bites, spider bites, bee stings, or contact dermatitis).

• Dead Space: V/Q Mismatch

  • The pulmonary circulation pressure is very low compared to that of the systemic circulation; it is also independent of cardiac output.
  • A physiological shunt can develop if there is infection or edema in the lung that obstructs an area.
  • A physiological shunt can develop if there is infection or edema in the lung which decreases ventilation, but does not affect perfusion; thus, the ventilation/perfusion ratio is affected.
  • Pulmonary edema with small pleural effusions on both sides (as shown) can cause changes in the V/Q ratio.

• Heart Failure

  • Rales or crackles, heard initially in the lung bases and later throughout the lung fields suggest the development of pulmonary edema (fluid in the alveoli).
  • Cyanosis, which suggests severe hypoxemia, is a late sign of extremely severe pulmonary edema.

• Aging and the Cardiovascular System

  • In the elderly, ventricular diastolic stiffness can lead to pulmonary circulatory congestion.
  • These elevated pressures are transmitted to the pulmonary vasculature and lead to pulmonary edema.

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the occurrence of chronic bronchitis or emphysema.
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), also known as chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD), chronic obstructive airway disease (COAD), chronic airflow limitation (CAL) and chronic obstructive respiratory disease (CORD), is the occurrence of chronic bronchitis or emphysema, a pair of commonly co-existing diseases of the lungs in which the airways become narrowed.
  • Advanced COPD can lead to complications beyond the lungs, such as weight loss (cachexia), pulmonary hypertension and right-sided heart failure (cor pulmonale).
  • It can be useful to help exclude other lung diseases, such as pneumonia, pulmonary edema or a pneumothorax.
  • Complete pulmonary function tests with measurements of lung volumes and gas transfer may also show hyperinflation and can discriminate between COPD with emphysema and COPD without emphysema.

• Functions of the Lymphatic System

  • Fluid removal from tissues prevents the development of edema.
  • Edema is any type of tissue swelling from increased flow of interstitial fluid into tissues relative to fluid drainage.
  • While edema is a normal component of the inflammation process, in some cases it can be very harmful.
  • Cerebral and pulmonary edema are especially problematic, which is why lymph drainage is so important.
  • Abnormal edema can still occur if the drainage components of the lymph vessels are obstructed.

• The Work of Breathing

  • In pulmonary diseases, the rate of gas exchange into and out of the lungs is reduced.
  • Examples of restrictive diseases are respiratory distress syndrome and pulmonary fibrosis.
  • Obstructive diseases and conditions include emphysema, asthma, and pulmonary edema.
  • The obstruction may be due to edema, smooth muscle spasms in the walls of the bronchioles, increased mucus secretion, damage to the epithelia of the airways, or a combination of these events.
  • Those with asthma or edema experience increased occlusion from increased inflammation of the airways.

• Hypoxia

  • Generalized hypoxia occurs in healthy people when they ascend to high altitude where it causes altitude sickness leading to potentially fatal complications: high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and high altitude cerebral edema (HACE).
  • Hypoxemic hypoxia may be due to hypoventilation or inadequate pulmonary minute ventilation (e.g., respiratory arrest or by drugs such as opiates).
  • This is known as "Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction" or "HPV."
  • Studies of miners and astronomers working at 3,000 meters and above show improved alveolar pO2 with full acclimatization, yet the pO2 level remains equal to or even below the threshold for continuous oxygen therapy for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

• Blood Flow in the Lungs

  • The pulmonary circulatory system is the portion of the cardiovascular system in which oxygen-depleted blood is pumped away from the heart to the lungs via the pulmonary artery.
  • Oxygenated blood is then returned to the heart via the pulmonary vein.
  • From the right ventricle of the heart, blood is pumped through the pulmonary semilunar valve into the left and right pulmonary arteries (one for each lung) and travels through the lungs.
  • The oxygenated blood then leaves the lungs through pulmonary veins, which return it to the left atrium of the heart, completing the pulmonary cycle.
  • Outline the path of pulmonary circulation: blood flow in the lungs