Pulmonary Edema (cont.)
What is the treatment for pulmonary edema?
The treatment of pulmonary edema largely depends on its cause and severity.
Most cases of cardiac pulmonary edema are treated by using diuretics (water
pills) along with other medications for heart failure. In the majority of
situations, appropriate treatment can be achieved as an outpatient by taking
oral medications. If the pulmonary edema is more severe or it is not responsive
to oral medications, then hospitalization and the use of intravenous diuretic
medications may be necessary.
The treatment for noncardiac causes of pulmonary edema
varies depending on the cause. For example, severe infection (sepsis) needs to treated with
antibiotics and other supportive measures, or kidney failure needs to be
properly evaluated and managed.
Oxygen supplementation is sometimes necessary if the measured oxygen level in
the blood is too low. In serious conditions, such as ARDS, placing a patient on
an artificial breathing machine is necessary to support their breathing while
other measures are taken to treat pulmonary edema and its underlying cause.
What are the complications of pulmonary edema?
Most complications of pulmonary edema may arise from the complications
associated with the underlying cause. More specifically, pulmonary edema can
cause severely compromised oxygenation of the blood by the lungs. This poor
oxygenation (hypoxia) can potentially lead to diminished oxygen delivery to
different body organs, such as the brain.
How can pulmonary edema be prevented?
In terms of preventive measures, depending on the cause
of pulmonary edema, some steps can be taken. Long-term prevention of heart
disease and heart
attacks, slow elevation to high altitudes, or avoidance of drug overdose can be
considered preventive.
On the other hand, some causes may not completely
avoidable or preventable, such as ARDS due to an overwhelming infection or a
trauma.
Next: Pulmonary Edema At A Glance »
- furosemide, Lasix - Describes the medication furosemide (Lasix), a drug used to treat excessive fluid accumulation and swelling (edema) of the body caused by heart failure, cirrhosis, chronic kidney failure, and nephrotic syndrome.
- Chest X-ray - A chest x-ray is a radiology test that involves exposing the chest briefly to radiation to produce an image of the chest and the internal organs of the chest. chest x-ray can be used to define abnormalities of the lungs such as excessive fluid, pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, cysts, and cancers.
- Kidney Failure - Learn about kidney failure, in which the body has fluid retention, risen blood pressure, toxin build up and lack of red blood cells. Symptoms include fatigue, nausea, and apetite loss.
Latest Medical News
Lungs RSS