Lung mechanics in pulmonary edema.

Pulmonary edema can cause alterations in lung mechanics that directly contribute to clinical morbidity and mortality rates. Both the location of the edema fluid (interstitital versus alveolar pulmonary edema) and the etiology of the pulmonary edema contribute to the severity and type of abnormalities of lung mechanics observed. The alterations in lung mechanics associated with the adult respiratory distress syndrome may involve the direct effects of released mediators, alterations in pulmonary surfactant, and altered airway reactivity, as well as the direct effects of the edema fluid.