Non-cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema

Abstract

The etiology of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema includes increased capillary permeability and decreased plasma oncotic pressure. The conditions predisposed to non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema include acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), lung re-expansion, central nervous system injury, and transfusion-associated lung injuries (Gutschow and Walker, Thoracic imaging: the requisites. Elsevier, Philadelphia, 2018). CT, chest x-ray, and lung ultrasound are modalities that are commonly used for evaluation of ARDS. Ground-glass opacity, dependent dense consolidation, and anterior lung with normal aeration are a few features of ARDS on CT (Gutschow and Walker, Thoracic imaging: the requisites. Elsevier, Philadelphia, 2018). Air bronchogram, normal heart size, and reduced or normal vascular pedicle width are a few key features of chest x-rays (Milne et al. AJR 144:879–894, 1985). Lastly, as a point of care tool, lung US can be used for ARDS evaluation. Lung US findings include air bronchogram, lung pulse, lung consolidations, pleural line abnormalities, and “spared areas” (Assaad et al., Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia 32:901–914, 2018).