Etymed
pulmonary edema
Definition
abnormal accumulation of fluid in the lungs
Clinical context
A 65-year-old patient with mitral stenosis presents to the emergency department with sudden onset dyspnea, orthopnea, and pink frothy sputum. On examination, bilateral crackles are heard on lung auscultation. Chest X-ray shows bilateral pulmonary edema with cardiomegaly. This patient likely has acute pulmonary edema secondary to left-sided heart failure.
Mnemonic
PULMONARY EDema = Pneumonia, Uremia, Lungs, Overload, Neurogenic, Edema, Pulmonary embolism, Nephrotic syndrome