Clinical QuickieCardiac
Peripheral Edema
Edema does not automatically mean fluid overload.
Laterality is a branch point
Bilateral edema suggests systemic/venous/medication causes; unilateral edema raises a different differential including DVT, lymphatic obstruction and local inflammation.
Time course matters
Acute painful swelling is different from chronic dependent edema with skin changes.
Look for the mechanism
HF, venous insufficiency, CKD, liver disease, hypoalbuminemia, medications and lymphatic disease produce edema by different mechanisms.
Do not reflexively diurese
Diuretics help selected volume-overload states but can worsen renal perfusion or orthostasis when edema is not from intravascular volume excess.
Want more depth?
Read the Deep Dive