| Popis: |
Pulmonary edema stemming from acute exacerbations of heart failure (HF) is commonly seen in the emergency department (ED). In some cases, it is due to a subacute exacerbation of chronic HF with the usual mechanisms of volume overload superimposed on preexisting cardiac dysfunction. In other cases, it can present as flash pulmonary edema (FPE) in which volume overload may be absent, but acute increases in afterload overwhelm the left ventricle with elevated filling pressures superimposed on chronic diastolic dysfunction. While heart failure exacerbations can have varying precipitants and presentations, those resulting in FPE require the most emergent management with which emergency physicians must be familiar. |
