The Curbsiders Internal Medicine Podcast #316 Lower Extremity Edema with The Curbsiders
5 snips
Jan 17, 2022 AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Mechanistic Framework For Edema
- Edema reflects imbalance of hydrostatic, oncotic pressures or capillary leak.
- Think mechanistically: increased venous pressure, low oncotic pressure, or leaky capillaries.
Start With Chronicity And Key Questions
- Ask whether swelling is acute vs chronic and whether it improves overnight.
- Use pain, medication list, and systemic symptoms to prioritize heart, liver, or kidney causes.
Exam Targets To Narrow Etiology
- Focus the physical exam on heart signs and the legs to distinguish causes.
- Check JVD, displaced PMI, pitting edema, and inspect medial malleolus for stasis changes.