Pulmonary Edema

Pulmonary means lungs and edema means swelling. It is a condition which is caused by excess fluid accumulation. This fluid collects in the numerous air sacs in the lungs, which makes difficult to breathe. In most of the cases, heart problems are caused due to pulmonary edema. It develops suddenly, which is called as acute pulmonary edema, which 0020 is a medical emergency requiring immediate care.

Symptoms of pulmonary edema may include: Coughing up blood or bloody froth, Difficulty breathing when lying down (orthopnea), Feeling of "air hunger" or "drowning" Grunting, gurgling, or wheezing sounds with breathing, Problems speaking in full sentences because of shortness of breath. Medicines that may be used for Pulmonary edema are Diuretics that remove excess fluid from the body, Medicines that strengthen the heart muscle, control the heartbeat, or relieve pressure on the heart.

 A breathing tube may be placed into the windpipe (trachea) so you can be connected to a breathing machine (ventilator) if you cannot breathe well on your own. In United Kingdom, statistical analysis on pulmonary edema resulted as 222 of 233 departments completed the questionnaire. 148 currently use non invasive ventilation (NIV). Most used NIV for either cardiogenic pulmonary oedema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Only 49 departments have protocols for NIV use and 23 audited practices.