Pulmonary Oedema

Pulmonary Oedema is the presence of excess fluid in the lungs, usually due to cardiac failure. The increase in filling pressure due to the inadequacy of the failing heart to pump all the blood that is being returned to it causes fluid to leak from the blood vessels into the air spaces - the alveoli. There is shortness of breath - particularly on lying flat. Besides reducing the fluid load using diuretics, any underlying cause for the cardiac failure should be sought, and treated.
 
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