RT Book, Section A1 Farrer, Jason A1 Sullivan, John T. A2 Pacheco, Luis D. A2 Saade, George R. A2 Hankins, Gary D.V. SR Print(0) ID 1115519325 T1 Pulmonary Edema in Pregnancy T2 Maternal Medicine YR 2015 FD 2015 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780071824163 LK obgyn.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1115519325 RD 2024/03/28 AB Pulmonary edema is defined as the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the interstitial and alveolar spaces of the lung. This accumulation can ultimately impair gas exchange by leading to decreased diffusion of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the alveoli. The resulting impact on oxygenation and ventilation carries significant morbidity and has the potential to be life threatening if severe.1 It is important to note that pulmonary edema is a clinical symptom that represents the manifestations of several distinct pathological processes. In the setting of pregnancy, pulmonary edema is relatively rare, but it can present in patients in the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum periods.2 Maternal pulmonary edema is particularly concerning as the parturient already has decreased pulmonary functional reserve because of the physiologic changes associated with pregnancy, increased metabolic needs, and the gestating fetus is less able to tolerate a hypoxic maternal environment. Furthermore, several coexisting maternal conditions and complications, such as underlying cardiac disease, preeclampsia, sepsis, multiple gestations, as well as routinely used treatments (eg, tocolysis) can lead to the development of pulmonary edema or worsen the severity of the condition.2,3