Introduction
Pulmonary Oedema occurs when there is congestion of the lungs with fluid, usually in a scenario of left-sided cardiac failure.
This results in stiffness of the lungs and flooding of the alveoli, with difficulty in breathing.
Pulmonary Oedema may also follow inflammatory processes.
It may be acute or chronic
Clinical features
- Difficulty in breathing, with a sensation of drowning
- Cough productive of frothy (sometimes pink) sputum
- Central cyanosis
- Sweating, agitation etc
- Other symptoms of left-sided cardiac failure
Examination:
- Wide-spread crepitations
- Rhonchi (in severe cases)
- Other signs of left-sided cardiac failure
Differential diagnoses
- Pulmonary embolism
- Pneumonia
Complications
- Hypoxaemia
- Coma
Investigations
- Chest radiograph
- Electrocardiography
- Echocardiography
- Blood gases
- Urea, Electrolytes and Creatinine
- D-Dimer
Treatment objectives
- Relieve oedema
- Relieve discomfort
- Treat underlying cause
Non-drug treatment
- Propped up position
- Bed rest
- Sit on bed with legs hanging down
Drug treatment
- Oxygen 3 to 5L per minute
- Morphine 10 mg stat
- Loop diuretics: Furosemide 40-120 mg intravenously stat; maintenance with 40 – 500 mg daily in single or divided doses
- Venodilator: 0.3-1 mg by mouth or 10-200 microgram/min intravenously
- Vasodilator: Hydralazine 25-50 mg 12 hourly; ACEI (Captopril: 6.25-25 mg by mouth)
- Aminophylline 250-500 mg or 5mg/Kg intravenously over 10 minutes
Supportive measures
- Nursing care (e.g. nurse in cardiac position)
Notable adverse drug reactions
- Diuretics: hpokalaemia
- ACEIS: First dose hypotension, dry cough,
- Nitrates: Hypotension
- Aminophylline: Arrhythmias hyperkalaemia
Prevention
- Treat cause(s) of cardiac failure or fluid overload (e.g. renal failure)
- Judicious administration of blood and intravenous fluids.