Pulmonary Edema

Pathophysiology and Clinical Features Etiology of Pulmonary Edema An etiologic classification of pulmonary edema based on mechanisms is presented in Table 1. Such an approach offers obvious advantages, although in a given circumstance multiple factors may be operative, and there are forms of pulmonary edema in which the mechanisms are not known. Altered Alveolar Epithelial or Pulmonary Capillary Endothelial Permeability This generally occurs on a basis of direct physical or chemical damage to either alveolar epithelial or pulmonary capillary cells. Most types of noncardiac pulmonary edema fall into this group. The possibility that the disorder is related to altered permeability arises.