ACUTE CARDIOGENIC PULMONARY-EDEMA - WHATS THE LATEST IN EMERGENCY TREATMENT

With the methods available today, most patients who arrive at the emer gency department with acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema can be treated quickly and effectively. Modern pharmacologic therapy is based on dir ectly counteracting the physiologic abnormalities that cause pulmonary edema. Agents that are useful in reducing LV preload and afterload an d in managing hypotension are nitroglycerin, ACE inhibitors, vasodilat ors, vasopressors, and bipyrines. Noninvasive pressure support ventila tion helps patients with pulmonary edema by decreasing the work of bre athing, enhancing oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange, and increasing c ardiac output. Use of BiPAP systems in emergency departments has avert ed endotracheal intubation in about 90% of patients with pulmonary ede ma who are experiencing acute respiratory failure.(23,24).