Q:
What is flash pulmonary edema?
A:
In medicine, flash pulmonary edema (FPE), is rapid onset pulmonary edema. It is most often precipitated by acute myocardial infarction or mitral regurgitation, but can be caused by aortic regurgitation, heart failure, or almost any cause of elevated left ventricular filling pressures.
Treatment of FPE should be directed at the underlying cause, but the mainstays are ensuring adequate oxygenation, diuresis, and decrease of pulmonary circulation pressures. Recurrence of FPE is thought to be associated with hypertension and may signify renal artery stenosis.
Prevention of recurrence is based on managing hypertension, coronary artery disease, renovascular hypertension, and heart failure.
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