Emergency care for pulmonary edema. Causes of pulmonary edema and emergency care. Emergency assistance to the victim

Pulmonary edema is a pathological condition that is accompanied by the accumulation of aqueous fluid in the alveoli. It often occurs as a severe complication of heart failure, myocardial infarction, hypertension, kidney inflammation, etc. Sometimes pulmonary edema occurs as a result of the patient lying in bed for a long time or pneumonia.

Pulmonary edema: diagnosis

The main signs of edema include: pale skin, rapid pulse, sputum production, shortness of breath, suffocation and wheezing in the lungs. It is difficult for patients to lie down, they are forced to sit, they feel general weakness and are very depressed.

First aid

The first thing that first aid should be aimed at is eliminating suffocation. The patency of the airway must be urgently restored. To do this, you need to transfer the patient to a sitting position. If there is no reason to fear collapse or myocardial infarction, it may be useful to perform bloodletting (up to 300 ml for adult patients and up to 200 ml for children).

The sooner measures for pre-medical care are started, the better for the patient. The patient is given a mixture of oxygen and alcohol vapor to breathe. In this case, alcohol acts as an antifoam agent.

To reduce blood filling in the lungs, tourniquets can be applied to the patient’s limbs. You only need to clamp the veins, maintaining normal arterial blood flow. To verify this, it is enough to feel the pulse in the artery located below the tourniquet.

Applying mustard plasters to the legs and arms also gives good results. Give the patient a nitroglycerin tablet and make sure that he puts it under the tongue until it is completely absorbed and does not swallow. If nitroglycerin has no effect, the next tablet can be taken no earlier than 10 minutes later.

Medical assistance

Medical care for pulmonary edema involves the use of drugs from the group of cardiac glycosides and bloodletting (if it has not already been done). The patient is given an oxygen mask or a mask through which he inhales vapors of alcohol or an alcohol solution of antifomsilane. To remove fluid from the respiratory tract, a catheter is used (it is inserted through the nasopharynx). Good results are obtained by drip injection of a solution of urea and sodium bicarbonate, and slow injection of a solution of pentamine. In case of severe pain, the patient is given an injection of an analgesic (narcotic analgesics can be used) or inhaled with nitrous oxide.

Some diseases cause conditions that require emergency care, since without correct and timely action the patient may die. These include pulmonary edema, which occurs suddenly and is characterized by a rapid course that threatens a person’s life.

Due to the fact that fluid accumulates in the lungs and alveoli, which sweats out of the capillaries, gas exchange is difficult, an attack of suffocation develops, and hypoxia is observed. This pathology requires immediate hospitalization of the patient, and correctly provided first aid often helps save the patient’s life.

Specifics of occurrence

Edema in the lungs does not occur as an independent disease. Most often it is provoked by heart disease and acts as the second phase of acute left ventricular failure. The first phase is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the lung tissues. After this edematous fluid passes into the alveoli, pulmonary edema occurs.

There are 2 types of acute pulmonary failure:

Cardiogenic;
Toxic.

1 type is associated with various heart diseases, and 2 occurs due to increased permeability of the alveolar membranes.

In addition, a mixed form is isolated, caused by neurogenic conditions.

This division is due to the reasons that cause this emergency condition:

Toxic effects in bacterial infections;
, sepsis;
Diseases;
Pathologies of the lungs and;
Predisposition to blood clots;
chest;
and failure;
Circulatory disorders.

In addition, there are a number of factors that contribute to the manifestation of an attack:

Stress and mental tension;
Strong physical activity;
Abuse and;
Sudden changes in weather conditions;
Pregnancy;
Premenstrual condition;
Exacerbation of chronic diseases;
Uncontrolled use of medications.

The disease occurs in two stages. At the first stage, the blood plasma is steamed into the lung tissue, and then, at stage 2, it penetrates into the alveoli. At this moment, alveolar edema occurs.

Most often, pulmonary edema is diagnosed in people over 40 years of age; in children, it occurs much less frequently, most often with failure of the left ventricle of the heart.

Manifestations of an attack

Pulmonary edema has pronounced symptoms that appear when a person is lying down. Most often the attack occurs at night.

The person feels suffocated and finds it difficult to breathe. After some time, wheezing and coughing begin. The patient cannot lie down and begins to look for a position in which the signs of an attack would not manifest themselves so acutely.

Lack of oxygen provokes severe pain in the chest, pink sputum begins to be released, breathing becomes very harsh and shallow.

There is confusion and extreme agitation. The skin takes on a bluish tint. The pulse, which is initially increased, gradually subsides and is practically not audible. The veins in the neck increase in volume and swell. There is a sharp deviation from normal blood pressure.

If emergency assistance for pulmonary edema is not provided on time, the person will die.

First actions

Correctly provided emergency care may not always relieve pulmonary edema, but with its help, they achieve relative stabilization of the patient’s condition before the arrival of doctors.

In this case, you need to follow a certain algorithm of actions:

Call the ambulance station;
Have the patient sit with their legs down;
Free the person’s neck from pressing objects (scarf, tie, etc.);
Ventilate the room well: open the windows and let in a stream of fresh air;
Measure your blood pressure.
If the blood pressure is normal, give the patient nitroglycerin sublingually;
Nitroglycerin should not be used. Limit yourself to validol;
Both nitroglycerin and validol are used no more than 2 times. In this case, the interval between doses should not be less than 5 minutes. Nitroglycerin in the form of an aerosol acts much faster than the medicine in;
During and after taking these medications, blood pressure readings should be constantly monitored;
Position the patient reclining;
Apply to 1 arm and both legs of the patient. Moreover, on the arm the tourniquet should be 10 cm below the shoulder, and on the legs - at least 15 cm down from the inguinal folds;
The tightening bandages are on the body for 20 minutes, then they are removed, and after 5 minutes they are applied again.

Note!

When the bandage is placed correctly, the skin acquires a purplish-blue tint, and a pulse is clearly audible below the site where it is applied.

If you are not sure about the correct application of the tourniquet, use foot baths with hot water, which have the same effect: the volume of circulating blood decreases and the load on the heart decreases.

Even if the symptoms of pulmonary edema are relieved, the patient still needs to be hospitalized to find out the reasons that caused the attack, as well as for a full examination.

Note!

No other medications should be given to a person during an acute attack! The rest will be performed by emergency doctors. Medical care should be provided in a hospital or home setting only by physicians.

Help with unstable blood pressure

First aid for pulmonary edema will differ slightly depending on the level of the patient’s blood pressure.

In this case, it is necessary to reduce it with the help of ganglion blockers. After using these medications, peripheral vessels dilate and blood resistance decreases. Medicines are used by intravenous administration. After every 3 ml of medicine that was administered to the patient, the pressure is measured.
In the event that there are no deviations from the norm or the pressure is slightly exceeded, venous vasodilators are used in combination with diuretics. Assistance should also be accompanied by regular monitoring of blood pressure.
At low readings on the tonometer, the heart receptors are stimulated. These drugs are administered under the control of changes in blood pressure and pulse

Medical assistance

Emergency care for cardiac asthma is provided by two people in the place where the attack occurred, since at this moment the patient cannot be treated. After providing emergency care for pulmonary edema, the patient is urgently hospitalized, and further treatment is carried out in a clinical setting.

With the help of a nurse, the blood pressure is constantly monitored while the doctor administers medications intravenously. The algorithm for providing assistance in this case will be as follows:

If necessary, remove mucus from. For these purposes, you can use any cloth soaked in alcohol. Its vapors must be inhaled by the patient.
Give the victim a nitroglycerin tablet. It must be placed under the tongue. This medicine tends to increase the venous bed, as a result of which the venous flow to the heart decreases.
Use diuretics that have a quick effect, as you need to reduce the volume of blood circulation. This needs to be done in a stream.
In order to reduce the process of excitation of the respiratory organs, use morphine, which is administered intravenously.
Provide oxygen through nasal catheters. Inhalations with an antifoam agent are also used.
Apply a pressure bandage to your legs.

Note!

An acute attack of both non-cardiogenic and cardiogenic pulmonary edema requires emergency care, since its characteristic feature is suddenness and high speed of flow. Timely emergency measures will save a person’s life and prevent the development of serious complications, because brain cells begin to die within 5 minutes of oxygen starvation.

Preventive actions

After providing the necessary assistance for pulmonary edema, the patient undergoes a course of diagnosis and treatment.

During this period, it is important for the patient to ensure peace, a rational balanced diet, and, if possible, to exclude any physical, mental or psychological stress.

After the course of treatment is completed, the patient needs to undergo regular outpatient monitoring.

An important preventive measure is timely treatment of diseases, avoiding increased physical activity and bad habits, as well as avoiding contact with toxic substances.

Video - Pulmonary edema. First aid

If pulmonary edema is suspected, emergency care should be provided to the patient immediately. Otherwise, complications such as asphyxia, shock, pulmonary failure, collapse, and even death may develop.

Clinical picture of pulmonary edema

Usually this pathology develops in the same way. However, the location of the accumulation and the amount of pathological fluid determine the severity of the symptoms of pulmonary edema. Assessing the severity of the disease process, in medical practice there are 4 phases of the course of the disease.

Clinically important manifestations of the disease are:

Dyspnea occurs - difficulty breathing. The number of respiratory movements increases sharply. Shortness of breath, even in a calm state, is the main sign of an increase in the volume of fluid in the paired respiratory organ. The patient complains of attacks of lack of air, a feeling of tightness in the chest.
As sputum begins to be produced, shortness of breath is the body's defense mechanism in conditions of severe gas exchange disturbance. Breathing becomes significantly heavier as the patient's condition worsens.
There is an abnormally rapid heartbeat - a sign of severe tachycardia. Experts record up to 120 contractions per minute.
Since fluid accumulates in the pleural cavity, bubbling breathing can be heard even from a distance. Moist wheezing comes from the chest. An intermittent cough appears as the situation worsens. Since mucus accumulates inside the paired respiratory organ, with this disease there is a discharge of foamy, thick mucous sputum (sputum) from the chest.
Blood streaks may appear in the pinkish liquid pathological secretion. Extracellular fluid with foam comes from the chest through the nose if the pathology is severe. Breathing becomes shallow. The patient gasps for air, constantly suffocating.
Due to an acute lack of oxygen, a pressing, squeezing pain is felt in the chest. Intense pain occurs in the center of the chest or in its lower part.
Poor circulation causes the development of diffuse cyanosis. A bluish coloration of the upper body and face appears. The tongue turns white. The skin becomes covered with drops of cold sweat. Often a whistle is heard from the chest.
Due to shortness of breath, the patient has to remain in a standing or sitting position. A very typical forced position is orthopnea. The patient experiences fear of death. A panic state develops.
Collapse often develops very quickly - blood pressure drops rapidly. Pulse intermittent, weak. The patient feels worse.
When the patient lies down, congestion in the lungs intensifies. All symptoms of edema increase. If the patient is not provided with competent medical care, the patient will choke and die, unable to breathe.
Pulmonary edema of any kind always requires immediate treatment, since the patient often experiences fainting and transitions into a coma.

Providing emergency assistance

The prognosis for this pathology largely depends on how quickly first aid is provided. Before the arrival of the ambulance team, emergency care for pulmonary edema should be carried out according to the following algorithm:

comfortably seat the patient;
free the body from restrictive clothing (shirt, tie);
apply a tourniquet to the limbs;
provide access to clean air;
give the patient a tablet of Nitroglycerin and Aspirin;
assess breathing and heart rate.

First aid can be provided to yourself by the patient, his relatives or people passing by. It is very important to give the person the correct posture. This is necessary in order to reduce congestion in the pulmonary circulation.

The most optimal position is half-sitting with your legs down.

This reduces shortness of breath and alleviates the patient's condition. In a half-sitting position, the pressure in the chest cavity decreases.

First aid includes applying tourniquets. They are located in the upper third of the thigh.

The pulse must be preserved. The purpose of this manipulation is to reduce the load on the heart.

With edema, hypoxemia develops. To saturate the blood with oxygen, you need to provide a flow of clean air.

To do this, you need to open a window, window or door.

Emergency treatment includes the use of nitrates. These medications dilate the coronary arteries, thereby improving the blood supply to the myocardium. Nitroglycerin is especially effective if swelling has developed against the background of an acute heart attack. Additionally, you can organize a foot bath.

If the patient foams at the mouth or produces pink sputum when coughing, it is recommended to breathe in ethyl alcohol vapor. You can use an inhaler for this. In case of cardiac arrest, resuscitation measures are required.

When performing chest compressions, the frequency of chest compressions should be at least 100 per minute.

Emergency assistance in extreme conditions. Video

Therapeutic tactics for edema

At home and during transportation to the hospital, specialists provide professional assistance:

Venous inflow is reduced by applying tourniquets to the limbs. After 20 minutes, the venous tourniquets are removed, gradually loosening them.
Suction and inhalation of 100% oxygen from the upper respiratory tract slowly remove fluid from the lungs. For this, oxygen therapy is performed.
Inhalation is carried out with ethyl alcohol.
The diuretic Lasix is administered intravenously.
It is important to reduce the fear of death, lower blood pressure with the help of ganglion blockers, and relieve tachycardia. For this purpose, narcotic analgesics are used.
In case of collapse, inotropic drugs are administered.

Diagnostics

In a hospital setting, a preliminary diagnosis is made based on the results of research, examination and questioning of the patient. After emergency care is provided, laboratory tests are performed. If edema is suspected, the following studies are required:

assessment of blood gas composition;
Ultrasound of the heart;
general clinical blood and urine tests;
biochemical research;
coagulogram;
catheterization;
electrocardiography;
X-ray examination.

The degree of hypoxia can be determined by determining the concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. In the early stages of edema, hypercapnia is detected, then the partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide decreases. The reaction of the environment also changes. Respiratory alkalosis develops. Central venous pressure increases.

Electrocardiographic signs of edema include left ventricular enlargement, rhythm disturbances, and tissue ischemia. Pulmonary artery catheterization helps determine the cause of edema. Blood pressure must be measured and auscultation performed. Collecting an anamnesis of the disease is of great importance. If the medical history contains indications of cardiac pathology, then edema can be suspected.

Therapeutic measures

In a hospital setting, it is important to immediately carry out the following treatment measures:

restoration of hydrostatic pressure parameters;
normalization of electrolyte balance;
regulation of heart rhythm;
correction of acid-base balance;
the outflow of blood from the lungs is facilitated with the help of Nitroglycerin;
vascular tone is reduced by vasodilators;
Albumin is administered intravenously if insufficient protein content is detected;
The steroid hormones Dexamethasone and Prednisolone have a good effect.

An important aspect of treating patients is the use of diuretics (diuretics). The most commonly used drug is Lasix. It is available in the form of tablets and solution. This drug should not be used for severe hypotension, cardiomyopathy and valvular stenosis. There are other contraindications. For high blood pressure, ganglion blockers are often prescribed.

These medications reduce the workload on the heart. Blood rushes to the extremities. Ganglioblockers include Pentamin and Benzohexonium. If collapse (decrease in blood pressure) is observed, then first aid includes the use of Dopamine or Dobutamine. For severe pain, analgesics are indicated. In severe cases, opioid receptor agonists (Promedol) are used.

Pulmonary edema develops mainly in older people.

Weakened immunity and possible concomitant diseases in such patients aggravate their condition and prognosis of the disease.

After hospitalization and diagnosis, the optimal treatment regimen is selected. Oxygen therapy is carried out. Narcotic analgesics are prescribed. They allow you to get rid of pain. Neuroleptanalgesia is often performed. It allows you to calm a sick person. To normalize heart function, dehydration is carried out using diuretics. If there are symptoms of acute heart failure, it is advisable to use Strophangin or Korglykon.

If swelling leads to bronchospasm, then adrenergic agonists (Salbutamol) are prescribed. Therapeutic tactics for the non-cardiogenic form of this pathology have its own characteristics. Additionally, glucocorticoids (Prednisone) are prescribed. In case of development of infectious complications (sepsis, pneumonia), the administration of antibiotics is indicated.

Measures to prevent edema

Pulmonary edema develops against the background of other diseases. To prevent it, you must follow the following rules:

timely and correct treatment of infectious diseases;
no smoking;
give up alcoholic drinks;
Healthy food;
do not use drugs;
move more;
eliminate stressful situations.

Many cardiovascular diseases are caused by poor lifestyle choices. The foundation for their development is high blood pressure.

If you have hypertension, you need to follow a diet and take medications for life. The most commonly prescribed drugs are from the group of ACE inhibitors.

Non-cardiogenic edema can be prevented by avoiding contact with harmful substances. A preventive measure is to take medications in the correct dosage.

The main reason for the development of edema is non-compliance with the doctor’s recommendations for treating the underlying disease. Using folk remedies and ignoring the problem can lead to serious consequences.

The prognosis for pulmonary edema is determined by the following factors:

underlying disease;
the age of the person;
completeness and timeliness of medical care.

Important to remember

If fluid appears in the lungs due to heart failure or pneumonia, an examination should be performed immediately. The key to a favorable outcome of the disease is the quick reaction of others and timely, competent treatment.

During an attack of suffocation, severe coughing, shortness of breath, blue discoloration of the limbs and lips, emergency care is required for pulmonary edema. Depending on the increase in pathological symptoms, the degree of the patient’s condition is determined.

The release of pulmonary fluid into the alveoli is accompanied by alveolar edema, which requires urgent elimination. Emergency care required for pulmonary edema is carried out at the site where the patient’s attack began. Action must be taken quickly and immediately.

Pre-medical emergency therapy consists of the use of nitrates, diuretics, and defoamers.

Correct condition assessment

A quick response to the symptoms of pulmonary edema can prevent the development of complications and death from the pathology. Oxygen starvation develops in different forms and can increase gradually or suddenly worsen. To provide effective first aid, the patient’s condition must be determined.

If the following signs occur, a person should urgently call an ambulance:

dizziness, appearance of spots before the eyes;
general malaise, loss of ability to work, apathy;
shortness of breath and frequent cough with watery discharge;
lack of air at night;
wheezing and whistling during inspiration;
breathing becomes shallow;
chest pain;
cold sweat, pallor, panic.

The patient tries to breathe with all his might, he loses self-control and thinks that he will die from suffocation. In this case, you should not let the person panic. First of all, try to calm him down and improve his breathing.

Assessment of the condition also includes reviewing symptoms according to their severity. If a person has a nocturnal attack, he has chronic swelling, which proceeds smoothly. Providing emergency care to a patient with pulmonary edema is necessary in the case of an acute form of the pathology or when the alveolar stage occurs. With lung defects and damage to the parenchyma, the state of health gradually worsens.

First steps before the doctor arrives

Extreme stages of pulmonary edema require immediate emergency care. The main algorithm of action for acute alveolar pathology:

Give the patient's body an optimal position in which it will be easier for him to breathe and blood circulation will be normalized. The person is seated so that his legs hang down.
Unbutton or remove outer clothing, open windows to ventilate the room.
Give the patient painkillers from the group of antipsychotics.
Measure the patient's pulse and blood pressure and monitor his breathing pattern.
Rub your feet or place them in a bath of warm water.
Apply venous tourniquets to the femoral part of the right leg, and then bandage it to the left.
It is necessary to carry out inhalation procedures, the patient should breathe in alcohol vapor.
If the pressure is unstable, give Nitroglycerin, which the victim needs to gradually dissolve.
Give the patient a diuretic drug to remove excess fluid that could cause swelling.

Emergency measures also include the administration of cardiac glycosides and drugs that correct electrolyte balance. The listed methods are able to normalize the patient’s condition and maintain a stable course of the pathological process. Therefore, you can’t just wait for an ambulance. Try to help the victim as much as possible. Check the list of first aid medications that you can give.

What a nurse should do in case of pulmonary edema

Upon arrival of the ambulance, nurses need to eliminate edematous lung syndrome. First of all, foaming is eliminated, the excitability of the respiratory center is reduced, and congestion is eliminated. Also a mandatory measure is stimulation of urination and inhalation therapy.

Detailed emergency care algorithm:

Reducing pulmonary swelling with nitrites. The drugs help reduce sensitivity to lack of oxygen and cardiac output.

Inserting a catheter into a vein. This measure is precautionary, since in the hospital or during first aid for pulmonary edema, the patient is prescribed intravenous medications.

To reduce pain and swelling, Morphine or Promedol is administered.
With increased pressure in the body and pulmonary circulation, Lasix and intravenous administration of Nitroglycerin are necessary.

Procedures are being carried out to reduce the load on the heart. Technique for applying venous tourniquets to the thighs for pulmonary edema: alternate legs every 20 minutes.
Introduction of defoamers and inhalation with 90% alcohol.

Also, the standards of medical care stipulate that the patient must be connected to a mask with an oxygen supply. The team call card indicates the degree of development of swelling, so that upon arrival at the hospital the patient is provided with timely assistance.

Therapeutic measures

After hospitalization of the patient during temporary stabilization of his condition, emergency diagnostic procedures are carried out. Emergency care for pulmonary edema in a hospital setting will protect a person from serious complications and death. Based on the factors that provoked the pathology, treatment is prescribed.

Physiotherapeutic procedures: inhalations with defoamers, drugs to eliminate bronchospasm.

Prescription of potent synthetic painkillers: analgesics (Morphine) and antipsychotics (Droperidol).

A course of nitrites, diuretics (Furosemide), tranquilizers (Relanium), and antispasmodics is prescribed.

For problems with blood pressure, medications are prescribed to normalize it (Arfonad, Pentamin).

Sedatives that calm the central nervous system.

To remove bronchospasm, a therapeutic or prophylactic course of “Euphylline” or “Aminophylline” is prescribed.

To prevent blood clots, Heparin is prescribed.

If the edema is infectious in nature or associated with the pathology of the inflammatory process, the antibiotics Ciprofloxacin are used.

Emergency care for edema includes a number of stabilizing drugs. It is not advisable to prescribe treatment on your own. While the victim is in the hospital, his condition is carefully monitored. Pulse, pressure, temperature, and quality of breathing are regularly checked. It is necessary to monitor the patient’s reaction to the course of medications; if intolerant, they are urgently replaced.

Consequences of providing incorrect assistance

If pulmonary edema is delayed in providing first aid or the algorithm of actions is violated, the patient may develop a number of complications. Even when the attack is eliminated and relief occurs, disturbances in the functioning of body systems are observed.

Main consequences:

pulmonary edema that develops within a few minutes;
complete lack of breathing due to damage to the respiratory center by toxic and poisonous substances;
arrest or disturbance of cerebral circulation;
disorders of the central nervous system;
formation of foam in the respiratory tract, which blocks the path for oxygen;
with prolonged hypoxia, the development of cardiac pathology;
partial collapse of the lung lobe;
development of pneumonia;
pathological proliferation of connective tissue of the lungs.

Therefore, urgent application of venous tourniquets, administration of nitrites and inhalation procedures can save the life and health of the patient. When calling an ambulance, be sure to clarify the measures to stabilize the patient’s condition.

Pulmonary edema is a serious pathology that interferes with the flow of oxygen to the brain and heart. Developing hypoxia leads to the failure of many body systems. Therefore, a lot depends on the first aid provided to the patient. In the event of an attack from swelling, call an ambulance and try to take measures to stabilize the victim’s condition.

Pulmonary edema is considered a serious complication of many cardiac pathologies. Severe intolerance, trauma, or chemical poisoning can also cause a dangerous phenomenon. The person’s condition is rapidly deteriorating, the functioning of the heart muscle and respiratory sections is disrupted. The algorithm for emergency care for pulmonary edema is performed first at home, then in a medical facility.

When the lung tissue swells, it loses its ability to provide oxygen to tissues and organs and remove carbon dioxide from the blood. It is not difficult to identify such a serious condition of a patient if you know its main symptoms. Edema can develop instantly, acutely, subacutely and for a long time.

First of all, the harbingers appear. These include progressive shortness of breath, rapid breathing, frequent coughing attacks, and wet wheezing.

Symptoms that arise against this background.

Pain in the sternum, feeling of squeezing.
Motor activity increases and shortness of breath develops.
There are disturbances in the functioning of the respiratory system. The patient does not have enough air, frequent ventricular contractions are noted. Breathing becomes loud, frequent and gusty.
Cold sweat appears on the body, it takes on a bluish color.
At the beginning, the cough is dry, then the mucus begins to come out. As a result, the sputum acquires a foamy consistency and a pinkish color.
In severe conditions, foam is released from the nasal passages and the person suffocates.
The patient is very frightened, his consciousness becomes cloudy. As clinical signs intensify, the pulse decreases.
Blueness appears on the lips, moist wheezing is clearly audible.

During the transient stage, all dangerous signs develop quickly. Due to the sudden onset, it is extremely difficult to save a life with this form. First aid for pulmonary edema of a protracted type is much more effective than for a rapid phase.

First aid

Providing assistance for pulmonary edema must be timely, only then there is a chance to normalize the condition with minimal risks. Sometimes death can occur after 1.5-2 hours. Before the medical team arrives, a number of manipulations are required to help stabilize the condition and reduce the risk of death.

In case of pulmonary edema, the following algorithm of actions is required.

Place the person in a position that is comfortable for him.
Bandage your arms and legs with a tourniquet. Make sure that the bandage is not tightened too tightly.
Give the person Nitroglycerin under the tongue or Aspirin.
Check the patient's blood pressure.

The victim can provide initial assistance to himself, or to his relatives or friends.

It is important to sit in a comfortable position to make it easier to breathe and reduce congestion.

Tips on behavior during pulmonary edema.

It's better to sit down with your legs down. This will make it possible to eliminate or slow down shortness of breath. In a semi-sitting position, pressure in the sternum decreases.
Hypoxemia occurs when the respiratory tract swells. It is necessary to ensure access of oxygen to the blood. To do this, open the windows in the room where the victim is located.
The first emergency aid for pulmonary edema at home is used using nitrates. Such medications contribute to the expansion of the coronary arteries and increase plasma saturation of the myocardium. Nitroglycerin is more effective for edema that occurs simultaneously with an acute infarction.

It is important to increase blood circulation to the heart muscle and reduce peripheral blood volume.

To do this, the arms and legs are tied with strong tourniquets (from a towel, a thermometer cuff). First aid for pulmonary edema will buy time until an emergency medical team arrives.

Reducing the amount of foam blocking the airways

Use alcohol vapor, it will reduce the volume of foam. Apply a towel soaked in alcohol to the nose or mouth area, or use an inhaler.

Emergency care for cardiac asthma and pulmonary edema involves performing resuscitation measures in case of cardiac arrest. Indirect massage should be carried out by pressing on the sternum at least 100-120 times every 60 seconds. They resort to using a defibrillator with a monophasic or diphasic pulse shape.

The bandages are placed at the very top of the leg, up to the thigh. Thanks to this event, the cardiac load is reduced.

Technique for applying venous tourniquets for pulmonary edema.

Take a sitting position with your legs hanging to the floor, sit like this for 5-10 minutes.
Application of tourniquets for pulmonary edema on the legs is performed at the same time. They should be located at a distance of 15-20 centimeters from the groin. Any fabric can be placed under the elastic band.
At the same time, the bandage is applied to the right arm in the shoulder area. It should be stretched enough so that blood flow through the veins is free.
You should check your pulse regularly, every 20 minutes.

The condition of your legs and arms should be constantly monitored. Focus on the skin tone in the area where the tourniquet is located. If pale skin is noted, this indicates trophic failures in the tissues; the elastic band should be loosened.

Qualified medical care

Doctors perform complex manipulations.

First aid for pulmonary edema in a hospital setting is aimed at achieving the following goals:

normalization of high blood pressure;
restoration of heart rhythm;
correction of acid and bile levels.

List of medications used.

For a heart attack, Nitroglycerin diluted with 500 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride solution, also Clopidogrel, Heparin, are indicated. The functioning of the heart is normalized with the help of thiazide diuretics, Strophanthin or Korglykon is prescribed. In case of severe pain, the patient is given antispasmodics, in severe situations - Promedol.
For arrhythmia - antiarrhythmic medications - Verapamil, Metoprolol, Atropine.
Hypertensive crisis - nitrates and Furosemide are injected into a vein.
Various diseases of an infectious nature - antibacterial drugs are indicated.
The allergic nature is eliminated with anti-allergic medications and glucocorticosteroids.
Hypoalbumenia, detection of insufficient amount of protein - Albumin is administered intravenously.
If blood pressure is elevated, ganglion blockers are indicated; they reduce tension on the heart muscle. Effective medications of this series include Pentamin and Benzohexonium.
Oxygen therapy is administered.

If necessary, neuroleptanalgesia is performed to calm the person. If an attack of bronchial asthma occurs, adrenergic agonists are indicated - Salbutamol. If sepsis develops, the patient is given antibacterial drugs.

When there is a tendency to heart pathologies, the risk of death is extremely high. This condition occurs more often in older people. Weakened protective functions of the body and possible chronic pathologies aggravate the condition and prognosis.

Upon completion of emergency care, therapeutic treatment of swelling of the respiratory muscles is carried out. The patient should adhere to the following recommendations:

follow a salt-free diet, give up fatty foods and sweets;
avoid physical stress;
Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.

When emergency care for pulmonary edema is carried out in the correct algorithm of actions, subsequent therapy will bring positive results. After the treatment course, the person remains under the outpatient supervision of a doctor. Therapy for edema lasts depending on the type of pathology (cardiogenic, non-cardiogenic), the presence of concomitant diseases, the general condition of the body and the age of the patients. Typically, complete recovery occurs within 7-15 days, if the pathology proceeds without complications.