Acute Pulmonary Edema: Causes, Symptoms, and Emergency Management

Acute Pulmonary Edema: Causes, Symptoms, and Emergency Management

Question. Describe briefly acute pulmonary edema.

Answer. The term acute pulmonary edema refers to a collection of fluid into the alveoli, its wall, and alveolar sac due to an acute increase in left atrial pressure.

Causes of Left Acute Pulmonary Edema.

1. Cardiogenic:

1. Left ventricular failure
2. Myocardial infarction
3. Mitral stenosis
4. Pulmonary infarction
5. Cardiac arrhythmia.

2. Non-cardiogenic:

1. Fluid overload
2. Shock
3. Inhalation of gastric acid (Mendelson’s syndrome)
4. High altitude pulmonary edema.

Acute Pulmonary Edema: Causes, Symptoms, and Emergency Management

Clinical Features: Acute Pulmonary Edema.

1. Feeling of oppression in chest
2. Acute and distressing dyspnea
3. Short cough and pink frothy sputum, sometimes blood-tinged fluid from the mouth and nose.
4. Sweat and a feeble pulse.
5. A fall in temperature.

Causes of Acute Pulmonary Edema

Management of  Acute Pulmonary Edema.

1. Bed rest is provided as the sitting position tends to reduce
   venous return.
2. Oxygen is provided
3. Inj. Morphine 15 mg subcutaneously is given.
4. Inj. Furosemide 80 mg IV relieves pulmonary edema.
   If the patient has not received digoxin during the last fortnight
5. Inj. Digoxin (0.5 to 1 mg) is given.
6. Inj. Aminophylline 0.24 g slow IV in 10 min is effective.
7. Patients not responding above regimen IV nitroprusside
   20–30 units g per minute is given.