Unit 4 - Edema Flashcards

1
Q

what is edema defined as?

A

palpable swelling produced by expansion of interstitial fluid volume
-can be diffuse or localized

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2
Q

when does edema become clinically apparent?

A

not until interstitial volume has increased by at least 2.5 to 3 L

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3
Q

what is the pathophysiology of edema formation?

A

2 basic steps

  • alteration in capillary hemodynamics favoring movement of fluid from vascular space into interstitium
  • retention of dietary or intravenously-administered Na and water by kidneys
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4
Q

why doesn’t hemoconcentration and shock occur in edema?

A

some of the fluid stays in vascular space instead of going to interstitium, helping to return plasma volume toward normal

  • change in capillary hemodynamics results in most of retained fluid to return to interstitium –> edema
  • thus the net effect is appropriate expansion of total EC volume (as edema) with maintenance of plasma volume closer to normal levels, to restore tissue perfusion
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5
Q

what are the possible causes of edema?

A
  1. increased capillary hydraulic pressure
  2. decreased plasma oncotic pressure
  3. increased capillary permeability
  4. lymphatic obstruction (lymphedema)
  5. myxedema
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6
Q

what occurs in increased capillary hydraulic pressure?

A

increased venous pressure by blood volume expansion

  • -heart failure (CHF)
  • -renal disease
  • -cirrhosis
  • -pregnancy
  • -constriction/restriction
  • -venous obstruction
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7
Q

what occurs in decreased plasma oncotic pressure?

A
  • hypoalbuminemia, malnutrition/malabsorption
  • nephrotic syndrome
  • decreased hepatic albumin synthesis (liver failure)
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8
Q

what occurs in increased capillary permeability?

A
  • burns
  • ARDS w/ sepsis-induced cytokine release increases pulmonary capillary permeability
  • malnutrition
  • angioedema
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9
Q

what occurs in myxedema?

A

hypothyroidism

  • accumulation of interstitial albumin
  • low lymphatic flow
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10
Q

what are compensatory factors to prevent edema?

A
  • lymphatic flow and contractility increase with tissue edema and remove excess filtrate
  • fluid entry into interstitium
  • -raises interstitial hydraulic pressure, reducing pressure gradient that favors filtration
  • -lowers interstitial oncotic pressure, by dilution and lymphatic mediated removal of interstitial proteins
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11
Q

what are the most common causes of generalized edema?

A
  • heart failure
  • cirrhosis
  • nephrotic syndrome and other renal diseases
  • premenstrual edema and pregnancy
  • anemia
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12
Q

what is pertinent history if there is peripheral edema?

A
  • right-sided heart failure
  • pericardial disease
  • renal disease (malaise, nausea, weight loss)
  • local venous or lymphatic disease
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13
Q

what is pertinent history if there is ascites?

A
  • cirrhosis
  • weight gain
  • increased abdominal girth
  • gynecomastia
  • spider angiomata/telangiectasia
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14
Q

what is intermittent edema commonly caused by?

A

premenstrual symptom

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15
Q

what history should you be aware of for all edema?

A
  • any disorder (CAD, HTN, alcohol abuse)

- medications that can cause cardiac, hepatic, renal disease

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16
Q

what should you look for on cardiovascular exam with edema?

A
  • heart rate
  • diaphoresis
  • S3 gallop
  • heart murmurs
  • cardiac rub
  • JVD
17
Q

what should you look for on pulmonary exam with edema?

A

crackles and wheezing

18
Q

what should you look for on abdominal exam with edema?

A
  • ascites (shifting dullness, fluid wave)
  • hepatojugular reflex (press on liver of people with early right-sided failure; the column of JVD goes up)
  • cirrhosis
  • signs of protal HTN
  • splenomegaly
  • masses
  • asterixis
  • palmar erythema or Papal sign
19
Q

what is nonpitting pedal edema diagnostic of?

A
  • lymphatic obstruction
  • lymphedema
  • pretibial myxedema
20
Q

what does localized edema look like?

A
  • angioedema
  • urticaria
  • cellulitis
  • erysipelas (localized rash due to infection in superficial lymph or dermis)
21
Q

what does entire limb edema look like?

A
  • acute unilateral limb edema (perform duplex US)
  • if DVT: give anticoagulant
  • if no DVT: consider cellulitis, obstruction from neoplasm, radiation, lymphedema
22
Q

what should you order for edema?

A
  • CBC
  • CMP (complete metabolic panel)
  • -electrolytes
  • -renal/liver function tests
  • -urinalysis
  • -oximetry
  • CXR
  • EKG and echo
23
Q

if there is no active cardiac, hepatic, or renal disease or anemia found in generalized/bilateral edema, what should you look for and do?

A
  • venous insufficiency –> leg elevation and compression stockings
  • medication –> stop Rx
24
Q

if there IS active cardiac, hepatic, or renal disease or anemia found in generalized/bilateral edema, what should you look for and do?

A
  • establish cause, if not known
  • start/increase diuretics
  • begin cause-specific treatment
25
Q

what is treatment for edema?

A
  • reversal of the underlying disorder (if possible)
  • dietary sodium restriction (to minimize fluid retention)
  • compression stockings
  • diuretic therapy and other medications (if needed)
26
Q

what is the only indication for immediate/urgent treatment of edema?

A

left-sided CHF and pulmonary edema

-otherwise do it slowly to avoid hemodynamic collapse or exacerbation of other medical problems