Kia ora team.
Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema is a build up of fluid (oedema) in the alveoli of the lungs due to a dysfunction of the left side of the heart (left heart failure).
The left side of the heart takes blood from the lungs (pulmonary circulation) and pumps it to the rest of the body (systemic circulation). If the left side of the heart fails then the pressure builds up in the pulmonary circulation.
This could be due to systolic dysfunction of the left side of the heart (eg from a myocardial infarction) or due to diastolic dysfunction (eg cardiac hypertrophy due to chronic hypertension.
The mitral valve connects the left atrium and the left ventricle. The aortic valve separates the left ventricle and the aorta. If there is regurgitation, the valves don't close properly, and blood is allowed to flow backwards. If there is stenosis the valves don't open fully and less blood is able to leave the left side of the heart. Both of these situations could cause back log of blood in the pulmonary circulation.
Increased hydrostatic pressure in the pulmonary circulation leads to fluid entering the alveoli this pulmonary oedema will decrease ventilation and make it harder for gasses to diffuse in and out of the alveoli.
Acute treatment includes PEEP (positive end-expiratory pressure) to increase the pressure in the alveoli and vasodilators to decrease the hydrostatic pressure inside the capillaries surrounding the alveoli.
Happy studying team.
