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pulmonary edema
diffuse extravascular accumulation of fluid in the tissues and air spaces of the lung due to changes in hydrostatic forces in the capillaries or to increased capillary permeability. It is most often symptomatic
of left ventricular heart failure, but a variety of other conditions can also cause it. Early symptoms include coughing, dyspnea, and intolerance to exercise. As fluid continues to accumulate, the dyspnea becomes more acute, with audible wheezing, and the coughing worsens. Eventually the patient becomes less responsive to stimuli,
ventricular arrhythmias, breath sounds diminish, and respiratory insufficiency is obvious.
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