Edema, other than localized edema, does not become clinically apparent until the interstitial volume has increased by 2.5 to 3 liters because the tissues constituting the interstitium can easily accommodate several liters of fluid. Therefore, a patient’s weight may increase by nearly 10% before pitting edema is evident.¹
Local
- deep vein thrombosis (DVT) / post-phlebitic syndrome
- incompetent deep valves
Systemic
- right heart failure (CCF)
- chronic liver disease
- nephrotic syndrome
- myxoedema
- drugs / hormones
- hypoproteinaemia
Unilateral
- extrinsic venous compression
- postoperative oedema – this is a DVT until proven otherwise and the patient should be anticoagulated if no contraindications and urgent USS arranged
Reference
- Goyal A, Cusick AS, Bansal P. Peripheral Edema. [Updated 2020 Nov 20]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554452/
