Pulmonary Edema Differential Diagnosis
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Heart failure (e.g., left ventricular failure): This is the most common cause of pulmonary edema, resulting from the heart's inability to pump blood efficiently, leading to fluid buildup in the lungs.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- High altitude pulmonary edema: Occurs in individuals who ascend to high altitudes too quickly, causing fluid leakage into the lungs due to hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.
- Fluid overload: Can occur in patients receiving excessive intravenous fluids, especially those with underlying cardiac or renal disease.
- Pneumonia: Severe pneumonia can cause increased permeability of the pulmonary capillaries, leading to fluid accumulation in the lungs.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): A life-threatening condition characterized by rapid onset of widespread inflammation and injury to the lungs, often caused by sepsis, trauma, or inhalation injury.
- Pulmonary embolism: A blockage of an artery in the lungs, which can cause sudden and severe pulmonary edema, especially if it is a large or saddle embolus.
- Cardiac tamponade: Fluid accumulation in the pericardial sac can compress the heart, leading to impaired cardiac function and pulmonary edema.
- Anaphylaxis: A severe allergic reaction can cause increased vascular permeability, leading to pulmonary edema.
- Rare diagnoses
- Neurogenic pulmonary edema: Occurs after a severe head injury or other neurological event, causing an increase in sympathetic tone and subsequent pulmonary edema.
- Reperfusion pulmonary edema: Can occur after reperfusion of an ischemic lung, such as after a lung transplant or pulmonary embolism treatment.
- Eclampsia: A rare but life-threatening condition in pregnant women, characterized by seizures and often accompanied by pulmonary edema.
- Lymphangitic carcinomatosis: A rare condition where cancer cells infiltrate the lymphatic vessels in the lungs, causing pulmonary edema.