What is pulmonary edema? Cardiology Basics

Pulmonary edema is collection of fluid within the lung alveoli. The most important cause of pulmonary edema is heart failure, specifically, left ventricular failure. Pulmonary edema can also occur when there is fluid overload in the body as in renal failure. Other causes of pulmonary edema are mitral stenosis, pulmonary venous obstruction, and increased permeability of the pulmonary capillaries. Increased permeability of the pulmonary capillaries occurs in noncardiogenic pulmonary edema - e.g. adult respiratory distress syndrome or ARDS.