Pulmonary edema

Pulmonary edema

Pulmonary edema develops, as a rule, as a result of acute insufficiency of the contractility of the left chambers of the heart, causing stagnation of blood in the pulmonary circulation. Due to the overflow of the pulmonary capillaries with blood, there is a transition of fluid from the vascular bed into the surrounding space - the alveoli, bronchi. Pulmonary edema occurs in severe aortic and mitral heart defects (usually with stenosis of the left atrioventricular orifice), hypertension, myocardial infarction, chronic ischemic heart disease, acute myocarditis; cardiac asthma may be complicated by pulmonary edema.

In some poisonings, toxic pulmonary edema may develop. The onset is most often sudden - there is a sharp shortness of breath, turning into suffocation. The patient takes a forced sitting or semi-sitting position, widespread bluishness of the skin appears, often with an ash-gray tint, swelling of the neck veins, suffocation; breathing is frequent, bubbling, a significant amount of foamy, sometimes pinkish sputum is released.

Pulmonary hemorrhage is also possible. Consciousness is usually clear. Often accompanied by fear of death. Refers to extremely serious conditions that threaten life and require urgent medical attention. Therefore, at the initial signs of it, you should immediately call an ambulance. Before the doctor arrives, the patient is helped to take a more comfortable sitting position with his legs down, and a flow of fresh air is provided. The prognosis for pulmonary edema is always serious and depends on the timeliness of the initiated medical measures, which can only be carried out by a doctor.