Pulmonary congestion

The accumulation of excess fluid within the pulmonary vasculature and lung interstitium, usually due to increased pulmonary capillary pressure or increased vascular permeability, causing impaired gas exchange and potentially progressing to pulmonary edema and respiratory compromise.

Causes

• Cardiogenic causes

  • Congestive heart failure

  • Myocardial infarction

  • Heart valve disease

  • Hypertension

  • Cardiomyopathy

  • Arrhythmias

• Non-cardiogenic causes

  • Pneumonia

  • Kidney failure

  • Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

  • Toxin or smoke exposure

  • Trauma

  • Sepsis

  • Aspiration

  • Near drowning

  • High-altitude pulmonary edema

• Other causes

  • Fluid overload from excessive intravenous fluids

  • Blood transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI)

  • Pulmonary embolism

  • Neurogenic pulmonary edema

  • Severe inflammatory states