Pulmonary Edema
Pulmonary edema is the excessive accumulation of fluid in the extravascular space of the lungs. This buildup can occur slowly, as a person affected with occult renal failure, or a dramatic speed, as in a patient with left ventricular failure after myocardial infarction. Pulmonary edema occurs most frequently dyspnea.
Shortness of breath is breathing affected perceived by an individual as well as uncomfortable or anxiety-provoking and disproportionate to the degree of activity. The person affected at first only notice shortness of breath with exertion, but may progress to experience dyspnea at rest. In severe cases, pulmonary edema may be accompanied by edema fluid in the sputum and can cause acute respiratory failure.
Etiology:
Pulmonary edema is a common problem associated with a variety of medical problems. In light of these multiple bring, it is useful to think in terms of pulmonary edema the underlying physiological principles.
Pathophysiology:
All blood vessels leak. In the adult human, leakage of the pulmonary circulation is less than 0.01% of pulmonary blood flow, or even an initial filtration of about 15 ml / h. Two thirds of this flow occurs through the interstitial lung capillary endothelium in the pericapillary room.
This really is one of the two extravascular spaces in the lung, interstitial room and air space, containing the alveoli and airways connection. These two spaces are protected by various barriers. The pulmonary capillary endothelium limits extravasation into the interstitial space, whereas the alveolar epithelium lines the air spaces and protect them for the free movement of the liquid.
The edema fluid is not easily key in the alveolar space, simply because the alveolar epithelium is almost impervious to the passage of the protein. This protein barrier creates an osmotic gradient that favors the powerful accumulation of fluid in the interstitium. The amount of fluid passing through the pulmonary capillary endothelium is determined by the area of the zone of the capillary bed patency of the vessel wall, and the pressure of the network driving along the wall (transmural stress or driving).
Pulmonary edema is usually caused by a failure of the left ventricle, the heart’s main chamber, due to various types of heart disease. In these conditions, the damaged left ventricle requires increased filling pressures to pump enough blood to all parts of the body. The increased pressure is transmitted to other chambers of the heart and veins and capillaries of the lungs. Over time, the liquid in blood vessels between the spaces between the tissues of the lungs. This makes it harder for the lungs to expand and prevents the exchange of air and gases between the lungs and blood flowing through the pulmonary capillaries.
There are several causes of this condition and include topics such as systemic diseases, which are diseases that affect many organ systems of the body. Other causes may also be local, which are those that may involve the extremities. The most common diseases of these cases include the heart, kidneys, and liver disease, edema presented here more due to the retention of the body of excess salt to the recommended levels. Such excesses of these salts cause the body to retain excess water then seeps into tissue spaces now appear as edema.
Another local conditions leading to pitting edema is the presence of varicose veins and swelling of the veins of the legs. Patients should be careful to identify the correct form of edema that have to eventually, doctors are able to provide adequate treatment. Any form of pressure can carry out this condition and that people are supposed to be careful in what touches the human body, especially the legs. Items such as socks can cause this type of disease, although many do not see it before reporting.
Various forms of treatment are available fro this type of edema and therefore patients should seek medical advice so they can come in right in the long term. However, pitting edema is common among many people and therefore are encouraged to share views and ideas so that many will find the best treatment that has worked for many others. Interactive sessions will enable people to meet and share ideas, doing so will minimize cases of ambiguity and improve the knowledge of many people in the long run. Several sites are available for data and that patients should not hide what they have, but to improve their treatable conditions in these sessions.
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