|
|
|
|
|
|
| Pulmonary Vascular Congestion |
| Etiology • Generally associated with left-sided heart failure • Etiology of heart failure includes myocardial damage associated with valvular, coronary arterial, or intrinsic myocardial injury • Other causes include blood loss andperipheral vasodilatation (shock) |
| Pathogenesis • Increased left atrial pressure leads to increased pulmonary venous pressure and then to increased pulmonary capillary pressure with congestion and ultimately transudation into the alveolar space(edema), |
| Epidemiology • Ischemic cardiac disease is leading cause of death in U.S. • Variety of disease processes result in left sided failure. |
| General Gross Description • Heavy wet lungs • Deep red • Ooze bloody fluid on sectioning • When chronic, rusty discoloration may occur |
| General Microscopic Description • Dilated blood vessels containing abundant RBC's • Scattered RBC's may be found in the alveoli due to diapedesis which lead to • Hemosiderin-laden macrophages (heart failure cells) appearing within a few days • Protein-rich edema fluid may also be present |
| Clinical Correlation • Dyspnea first on exertion, then lying down (orthopnea) and then at rest |
| References • Cotran RS, Kumar V, Robbins SL: Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 5th edition. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 1994, pp. 521-522. |
| Pulmonary Vascular Congestion |
| Synopsis by: Melinda Sanders M.D. (T28000M36142)[114] |
| Search Medline at National Library of Medicine Please be patient during transfer. Medline will open in a new window. To return, close the Medline Window |
|
|
|
|
|
|