Question

Discuss edema. What are the basic conditions that can cause the condition and what kind of physiological events can result in those conditions?

Answer 1

Edema is defined as the presence of exessive amount of fluid in the interstitial space of the tissue resulting in swelling.

Edema occurs due to:

- increase of the capillary hydrostatic presure

- Derease of the Capillary oncotic pressure

-Increasepermeablity of the blood capillaries leading to increase fluid leakage into the interstitial spaces

- Obstruction in flow of the lymphs in thelymphatic system.

- Increase in hydrostatic pressure at venous end of the capillaries due to venous congestion

All of these results in excessive filtration of the fluid and decrease drainagae of the fluid from the interstitial space.

etiology of the edema are:

- Congestive cardiac failure leading to venous congestion

- Liver failure leading to low plasma protein that decreases plasma oncotic pressure

- Nephrotic syndrome causing excessive loss of protein in urine leading to hypoabuminemia.

- Filariasis cauing lymphatic obstruction