An ultrasound of the lungs could help physicians determine quickly if a pregnant woman with preeclampsia is at risk for respiratory failure, according to preliminary research published in Anesthesiology.
Potential complications of preeclampsia include pulmonary edema, which is typically caused by heart failure but also can be caused by lung inflammation. Pulmonary edema can lead to respiratory failure. Researchers performed both cardiac and lung ultrasounds before and after delivery in 20 women with severe preeclampsia.
According to the research, five of the 20 women had pulmonary edema prior to delivery according to lung ultrasound, while four had the condition according to the cardiac ultrasound. The lung ultrasound identified a patient with non-cardiac pulmonary edema, which the cardiac ultrasound did not detect.
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Potential complications of preeclampsia include pulmonary edema, which is typically caused by heart failure but also can be caused by lung inflammation. Pulmonary edema can lead to respiratory failure. Researchers performed both cardiac and lung ultrasounds before and after delivery in 20 women with severe preeclampsia.
According to the research, five of the 20 women had pulmonary edema prior to delivery according to lung ultrasound, while four had the condition according to the cardiac ultrasound. The lung ultrasound identified a patient with non-cardiac pulmonary edema, which the cardiac ultrasound did not detect.
More Articles on Anesthesia:
TeamHealth Acquires Professional Anesthesia Services
12 Challenges for Anesthesia Groups Next Year
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