Pulmonary edema

It can be caused by various reasons. With myocardial infarction due to heart failure and the resulting in connection with it, the outflow of blood from the pulmonary vessels. In patients with essential hypertension or anemia, it is mainly due to the excitation of the autonomic nervous system, which leads to a redistribution of blood in the body and its accumulation in the pulmonary system. The same happens with injuries and brain diseases. With uremia, poisoning with toxic substances (chlorine, phosgene) in the development of pulmonary edema, an increased role is played by the increased permeability of the wall of the pulmonary capillaries. Regardless of the cause, pulmonary edema results in impaired breathing and hypoxia. One of the first symptoms is shortness of breath (shortness of breath), anxiety of the patient, increased heart rate. In the future, breathing becomes hoarse and even bubbling, a cough appears with the release of white or pink foamy sputum. This foam prevents the entry of air into the alveoli of the lungs, the patient develops oxygen starvation, one of the signs of which is cyanosis of the skin and mucous membranes (cyanosis).
First aid. First of all, it is necessary to restore the patency of the airways, remove foamy sputum. To this end, sputum absorption, inhalation of oxygen with alcohol vapors, which is one of the effective antifoam agents, is used. To reduce blood filling in the pulmonary vessels, it is advisable to apply tourniquets to the extremities. In this case, it is necessary to pinch only the venous vessels and maintain normal arterial blood flow. Therefore, after applying a tourniquet, it is necessary to check the presence of a pulse on the artery below the tourniquet. In addition, to reduce the filling of the blood vessels of the lungs are shown diuretics that reduce blood pressure. With low blood pressure, these drugs should be used with great care. Assisting patients with pulmonary edema should be aware of the various causes and mechanisms of its development. So, if a patient with heart failure effectively injects morphine to reduce dyspnea, when swelling of the lungs is associated with damage or brain disease, this drug is contraindicated. Therefore, starting to provide first aid, which consists in anti-venous therapy, inhalation of oxygen and application of tourniquets, it is necessary to call a doctor who can understand the reasons and continue correct intensive therapy.