First-aid and medical emergency care for pulmonary edema

Pulmonary edema is a pathology that is caused by a significant increase in the level of the intercellular (interstitial) fluid. Its formation occurs as a result of the release of part of the plasma from the blood vessels. In the absence of pathology, the intercellular fluid is again absorbed into the lymphatic vessels, which leads to the return of the plasma filtrate back. The physiological essence of this process is that this fluid participates in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the cells and facilitates the removal of metabolic products. Emergency care for pulmonary edema is mandatory for human salvage.

Hydrostatic edema

The amount of intercellular fluid increases due to the increased hydrostatic pressure in the pulmonary blood vessels. As a result, it leads to edema.

Membrane edema

The amount of intercellular fluid increases at normal pressure due to excessive plasma filtration. For example, with the activity of inflammatory mediators the permeability of membranes increases, which leads to edema.

Causes

The most common is pulmonary edema with heart failure (usually the left heart ventricle) due to stagnation in a small circulatory system. Sometimes this pathological condition occurs with mitral and aortic defects, with hypertensive crises, myocardial infarction, cardiosclerosis and acute myocarditis. When poisoning can develop toxic pulmonary edema. Regardless of the reasons, the patient needs emergency help with swelling of the lungs.

Symptomatics

With pulmonary edema, pronounced dyspnea, swelling of the veins of the neck, cyanosis of the face are observed. Breath is bubbling and a significant amount of foamy sputum (sometimes with a pink tinge) is released. Patients are difficult to lie. They are forced to sit on the bed with their legs lowered. Over both lungs damp wheezes or sometimes the rhythm of canter are heard, and deaf tones of the heart are noted. The patient throws into a cold sweat. There is a general weakness. The pulse is weak and frequent. The fear of death appears in the patients. In severe forms of the pathological condition, a collapse develops at the same time.

First aid for pulmonary edema

Pre-medical actions for swelling of the lungs are to transfer the patient to a sitting position. At normal or high pressure, if there is no evidence of myocardial infarction and collapse, you can let the person bleed (children do not exceed 100-200 ml, and adults - 200-300 ml). Early emergency care for pulmonary edema increases the patient's chances of a favorable prognosis. Subcutaneously, the patient needs to inject 1 cube of a solution of promedol and 2 cubes of camphor, organize the inhalation of ethanol vapor through any inhaler (for children 30% solution), apply tourniquets to veins of the extremities (no more than 1 hour).

Medical emergency care for pulmonary edema

The patient is given cardiac glycosides, makes bloodletting (if not already done earlier), oxygen therapy. Intravenously, 100-150 mg of lasix should be administered in 20 cubes of sodium chloride solution or 1 cubit of Novurite intramuscularly. Inhalation is continued through an inhaler or mask of ethanol vapors (96%) or antifensilane (10% alcohol solution). The liquid from the upper respiratory tract is removed with a catheter (through the nose). Drip a solution of urea and then sodium bicarbonate (5%). A solution of pentamine (5%) is added slowly and slowly (40 minutes). In severe pain syndrome, analgesics or nitrous oxide inhalations are used.