Acute pulmonary oedema management

Initial ABCDE approach

Follow usual ABCDE approach if critically ill.

Include in assessment

• ECG – the acute LVF may be caused by  
• ACS or an arrhythmia
• CXR
• Echocardiogram
• Catheterise and implement strict 
• fluid balance charting 
• Serial weights
• B-type natriuretic peptide
• Troponin if ACS suspected
• ABG

Treatment – PODMAN

• Position (sit up)
• Oxygen (high-flow initially; titrate to keep oxygen saturations 92-96%, consider CPAP on CCU or HDU)
• Diuretic if fluid overloaded or usually on it (e.g. furosemide 40mg IV initially) 
• Morphine if patient anxious/distressed (e.g. morphine 2-4mg IV)
• Antiemetic if nauseous or giving morphine (e.g. metoclopramide 10mg IV)
• Nitrates in severe pulmonary oedema (GTN infusion if SBP >110, or 2 puffs GTN spray if SBP 90-110) 

Identify and treat cause

• ACS → PCI
• Arrhythmia → see notes on arrhythmias
• Tamponade → pericardiocentesis
• Acute aortic/mitral regurgitation → valve replacement
• Hypertensive crisis → BP management
• Fluid overload → regular furosemide

Further interventions if required

• CPAP if hypoxaemic despite above interventions
• Inotropes ± intra-aortic balloon pump in ICU if in cardiogenic shock (hypotension + overload)

Long-term heart failure management

• Treat cause where possible 
• Diuretic (e.g. furosemide, bumetanide) if fluid overloaded
• Treatments with prognostic benefit for heart failure with reduced ejection function (use all)
  • ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker or angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (e.g. sacubitril/valsartan)
  • β-blocker (e.g. bisoprolol)
  • Aldosterone antagonist (e.g. spironolactone, eplerenone) 
  • SGLT2-inhibitor (e.g. dapagliflozin, empagliflozin)
• Control specific causes/associated conditions (e.g. hypertension, AF, obesity, diabetes, myocardial ischaemia) for heart failure with preserved ejection function
• Non-pharmacological treatments
  • Cardiac resynchronisation therapy device: considered if QRS significantly prolonged
  • Implantable cardioverter defibrillator: considered if risk of ventricular arrhythmias