2. Edema is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the
interstitium, located beneath the skin and in the
cavities of the body.
Edema is a normal response of the body to
inflammation or injury. For example, a twisted ankle, a
bee sting, or a skin infection will all result in edema in
the involved area.
In some cases, such as in an infection, this may be
beneficial. Increased fluid from the blood vessels
allows more infection-fighting white blood cells to
enter the affected area.
3. FIVE FACTORS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE FORMATION OF
EDEMA:
1. INCREASED HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE.
2. REDUCED PLASMA ONCOTIC PRESSURE.
3. INCREASED BLOOD VESSEL WALL PERMEABILITY .
E.G. INFLAMMATION
4. OBSTRUCTION OF FLUID CLEARANCE IN THE LYMPHATIC
SYSTEM.
5. CHANGES IN THE WATER RETAINING PROPERTIES OF THE
TISSUES THEMSELVES. RAISED HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE
OFTEN
REFLECTS RETENTION OF WATER AND SODIUM BY THE KIDNEY.
4. EDEMA CAN BE CLASSIFIED AS GENERALISED OR LOCALISED.
• GENERALIZED EDEMA IS A CONDITION WHEN YOU NOTICE
SWELLING, PUFFINESS, AND WATER RETENTION IN VARIOUS BODY
PARTS, INCLUDING YOUR ABDOMEN, ARMS, LEGS, FACE, AND
FEET.
• SYMPTOMS INCLUDE BLOATING, TIGHTENING OF SKIN, AND SKIN
THAT HOLDS AN IMPRINT OR LOOKS PITTED
• CONDITIONS LEADING TO GENERALISED EDEMA:
1. CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE
2. NEPHROTIC SYNDROME
3. CIRRHOSIS OF LIVER
4. SYSTEMIC INFECTION ETC
5. • IN GENERALIZED EDEMA, FLUID COLLECTS IN THE INTERSTITIAL TISSUES, EITHER
BECAUSE MORE FLUID IS BEING SECRETED OR BECAUSE REMOVAL OF THE FLUID IS
FAILING.
THE EFFECTS OF GRAVITY MEAN THE SWELLING IS OFTEN MOST MARKED IN THE
LOWER BODY.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF A PERSON IS AMBULANT OR ABLE TO WALK, THE FLUID MAINLY
GATHERS AROUND THE FEET AND ANKLES, WHILE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BEDRIDDEN
TEND TO HAVE MORE WIDESPREAD EDEMA.
GENERALIZED EDEMA IS OFTEN A FEATURE OF HEART FAILURE, WHEN THE
HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE IN THE BLOOD VESSELS RISES.
IN CONDITIONS SUCH AS NEPHROTIC SYNDROME AND LIVER FAILURE, THE ONCOTIC
PRESSURE OFTEN FALLS. THESE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE A
GENERALIZED EDEMA THAT AFFECTS PERIPHERAL TISSUES AND SEVERAL ORGANS.
FOR INSTANCE, HEART FAILURE CAN CAUSE PULMONARY EDEMA, ASCITES (FLUID
COLLECTION AROUND THE ABDOMINAL ORGANS), PLEURAL EFFUSIONS (FLUID IN THE
LUNGS) AS WELL AS PERIPHERAL EDEMA (SWELLING IN THE LOWER LIMBS).
EDEMA DUE TO NEPHROTIC SYNDROME IS OFTEN CAUSED BY ALTERATIONS IN THE
CAPILLARY STRUCTURE OF THE GLOMERULI, CHANGES THAT OCCUR TO SOME
EXTENT IN MOST OTHER BODILY TISSUES.
SEVERAL MEDICATIONS MAY ALSO CAUSE GENERALIZED EDEMA, SUCH AS THE
BLOOD PRESSURE LOWERING CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS AND VASODILATORS.
6. LOCALISED EDEMA can be defined as the type of
edema confined to a particular part/organ of the
body.
• Various conditions that lead to localised edema
are:
1. Trauma
2. Infection
3. Lymphatic Obstruction like Filariasis
4. Venous Obstruction (e.g.- thrombosis)
7. Cutaneous edema is referred to as “PITTING" when, after
pressure is applied to a small area, the indentation
persists after the release of the pressure.
Peripheral pitting edema is the more common type,
resulting from water retention. It can be caused by
systemic diseases, pregnancy in some women, either
directly or as a result of heart failure, or local conditions
such as varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, insect bites,
and dermatitis.
“NON-PITTING EDEMA” is observed when the indentation
does not persist. It is associated with conditions such as
lymphedema, lipedema, and myxoedema
8. There are different types of edema. Some of
them are specific to certain parts of the body,
while others may be more generalized.
Edema can be majorly classified into following
types:
a) PERIPHERAL EDEMA- Peripheral edema mainly occurs in the legs, feet, and
ankles.This is the most common type of edema and it causes swelling in
the lower extremities .
b) PULMONARY EDEMA- Pulmonary edema is the accumulation of fluids in the lungs due
to the blockage of the pulmonary veins. As blood
pressure rises in the blood vessels of the lungs, fluids rush in to fill the lungs.
c) CEREBRAL EDEMA- In cerebral edema, fluids accumulates in the intracellular and
extracellular spaces of the brain. It can be caused by metabolic abnormalities due to an underlying disease
or as a response to oxygen deprivation at high altitudes.
