First of all, speaking of pulmonary edema, it must be said what it is. This is the name of the pathological condition that occurs with an increase in the amount of fluid in the interstitial (intermediate) lung tissue and in the alveoli. As a result, the patient has a deficiency of oxygen in the blood, and as a result, hypoxia (lack of tissue respiration). This is a serious, life-threatening condition that develops quickly enough.
Why does it arise
The causes of pulmonary edema are diverse. First of all, it should be mentioned that hydrostatic edema and membrane-induced edema can occur according to the type of development. In the first case, the exit of fluid into the lumen of the alveoli and into the lung tissue is associated with an increase in pressure in the vessels or with a drop in the level of blood proteins. With the second type of edema, the liquid penetrates into the lung tissue and into the alveolar sacs from the vessels when their walls are damaged.
What are the causes of pulmonary edema caused by an increase in blood pressure or a decrease in its protein content?
- Hydrostatic pressure in the small circle increases with heart defects, arrhythmias, “left heart” insufficiency, blockage of the branches of the pulmonary artery, increased BCC (circulating blood volume), including renal failure, eclampsia of pregnant women, inadequate infusion therapy. Disorders of brain functions due to injuries, stroke, epilepsy, surgical intervention can become a trigger factor for neurogenic pulmonary edema.
- Plasma protein levels decrease with diseases of the liver (cirrhosis) and kidneys (accompanied by loss of protein in the urine).
What were the causes of pulmonary edema, if the mechanism of its development is membranogenic? In this case, the capillary membrane is directly damaged by various factors, this happens with infectious diseases, sepsis, aspiration of water, gastric contents into the lungs, exposure to drugs, drugs, radiation.
As for the problems of the respiratory organs, lung damage can cause lung edema, infectious diseases, tumors, bronchial asthma, pneumothorax, pleurisy, airway obstruction, pulmonary embolism, other pulmonary diseases. These causes lead to both hydrostatic and membranogenic edema.
Whatever the causes of pulmonary edema, after the occurrence of its impairment, the patient's conditions develop according to one scenario. The fluid in the alveoli prevents them from fulfilling their function, and, as already mentioned, hypoxia occurs, that is, a lack of oxygen for organs and tissues of the whole body. The patient manifests shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness, rapid breathing.
To clarify the diagnosis, a clinical examination of the patient is carried out, radiography (light pulmonary fields are observed on it, as opposed to normal dark ones), an ECG, a study of blood gases.
What treatment for pulmonary edema exists
Its principles are as follows: to support the respiratory function of the lungs (mechanical ventilation, oxygen therapy, inhalation of moist oxygen), weaken venous congestion (nitrates), reduce BCC (diuretics, ACE inhibitors), reduce shortness of breath and relieve stress (narcotic analgesics). With heart diseases, drugs are prescribed depending on the existing pathology. In the presence of other diseases that caused pulmonary edema, it is necessary to conduct intensive therapy of the disease-cause in parallel with the fight against it.