Pulmonary Edema II: Noncardiogenic Pulmonary Edema

• Authors: Annette Esper, Emory University; Gregory Martin, Emory University; Gerald W Staton Jr., Emory University
• Book Title: Medicine
• Publisher: Decker
• Publication Date: 2021
• Type of Work: Chapter | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.2310/im.1372
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery
• Keywords: Pulmonary Edema

Abstract

Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema refers to acute pulmonary edema that is caused by increased pulmonary capillary permeability due to direct or indirect injury to the lung. A decrease in the reflection coefficient of Starling’s law is the main mechanism that leads to the development of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, manifest clinically as breakdown of the alveolocapillary barrier. This is in contrast to caiogenic pulmonary edema, where elevated hydrostatic pressure is responsible for fluid accumulation. There are many causes of noncardiogenic edema, with the most common cause being acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Common clinical characteristics that can aid in the diagnosis of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema are listed here.