ACCS Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Test Preparation Guide

Managing acute pulmonary edema typically focuses on reducing fluid overload and alleviating symptoms associated with congestion in the lungs. One of the primary treatments for this condition is the use of diuretics, which work by promoting the excretion of excess fluids and sodium through the urine. This helps to decrease pulmonary congestion and reduces the workload on the heart, making it easier for the patient to breathe.

Diuretics are particularly effective in cases of heart failure, where fluid accumulation can lead to pulmonary edema. By reducing the volume of fluid in the body, diuretics assist in lessening the pressure in the pulmonary capillaries, alleviating the symptoms that patients experience, such as shortness of breath and decreased oxygenation.

Other treatments like bronchodilators and narcotics may play a supportive role in symptomatic relief or management of associated anxiety but do not address the underlying fluid overload. Anticoagulants are typically not utilized in the management of pulmonary edema unless there is a concurrent condition, such as pulmonary embolism, that warrants their use.