Pulmonary congestion

The accumulation of excess fluid within the pulmonary vasculature and lung interstitium, usually from elevated pulmonary capillary pressure, leading to impaired gas exchange and potentially progressing to pulmonary edema and respiratory compromise. Possible causes are cardiogenic (congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, heart valve disease, hypertension) and non-cardiac (pneumonia, kidney failure, ARDS, toxin/smoke exposure, trauma).