A 62-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by a friend due to severe shortness of breath. He is agitated and gasping for air and is unable to provide history. His friend says the patient has a history of chronic alcohol use and attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. He is unaware of any other medical history. Temperature is 36.7 C (98 F), blood pressure is 110/70 mm Hg, pulse is 104/min, and respirations are 32/min. Due to worsening respiratory distress, immediate endotracheal intubation is performed and mechanical ventilation is begun. The patient is admitted to the intensive care unit and, despite appropriate therapy, dies several hours later. Autopsy examination is performed, and histopathology of the lungs reveals engorged pulmonary capillaries and intraalveolar, acellular, pink material that is more prominent at the bases. This patient most likely had which of the following conditions?

Question

A 62-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by a friend due to severe shortness of breath.  He is agitated and gasping for air and is unable to provide history.  His friend says the patient has a history of chronic alcohol use and attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.  He is unaware of any other medical history.  Temperature is 36.7 C (98 F), blood pressure is 110/70 mm Hg, pulse is 104/min, and respirations are 32/min.  Due to worsening respiratory distress, immediate endotracheal intubation is performed and mechanical ventilation is begun.  The patient is admitted to the intensive care unit and, despite appropriate therapy, dies several hours later.  Autopsy examination is performed, and histopathology of the lungs reveals engorged pulmonary capillaries and intraalveolar, acellular, pink material that is more prominent at the bases.  This patient most likely had which of the following conditions?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema results from increased pulmonary venous pressure.  The alveolar capillaries become engorged with blood and there is a transudation of fluid plasma across the alveolar-capillary membrane, appearing as pink, acellular material within the alveoli.

A 62-Year-Old Man Is Brought to the Emergency Department by a Friend