Pedal edema
Peripheral edema | |
Massive peripheral edema (Image courtesy of Charlie Goldberg, M.D., UCSD School of Medicine and VA Medical Center, San Diego, CA) | |
ICD-10 | R60.0 |
ICD-9 | 782.3 |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Associate Editor-In-Chief: M.Umer Tariq [2]
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Overview
Competent venous valves, intermittent leg muscle contraction and respiration is required to support normal venous blood return. When these fail, venous insufficiency and edema occur. Edema can occur in 2 forms: pitting and non-pitting. Pitting occurs when there is fluid movement when pressure is applied. Non-pitting is swelling of the tissue itself, not an excess of fluid surrounding the tissue. Edema is caused by an accumulation of an excessive amount of watery fluid in the serous cavities, tissues or cells causing painless, non-reddened swelling
Epidemiology and Demographics
25% of the general population suffers from chronic venous insufficiency.
Complete Differential Diagnosis
In alphabetical order: [1] [2]
- Abscess
- Acquired C1-esterase inhibitor deficiency
- Acute glomerulonephritis
- Addison's Disease
- Amlodipine
- Amniotic band
- Angioneurotic edema
- Anemia
- Anorexia Nervosa
- AV fistula
- Bartter's Syndrome
- Beriberi
- Boils
- Bruise
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Burn
- Cachexia
- Carbuncle
- Cellulitis
- Cold (physical stimuli)
- Constrictive pericarditis
- Contact dermatitis
- Contusion
- Cushing's Syndrome
- Diltiazem
- Drugs
- Erysipelas
- Exudative enteropathy
- Filariasis
- Fracture
- Frostbite
- Gas gangrene
- Gout
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypoalbuminemia
- Hypoplasia
- Hypothyroidism
- Ibuprophen
- Idiopathic edema
- Insect bite
- Irritant
- Left heart failure
- Ligamentous sprain
- Liver failure
- Lymph node mass
- Malabsorption
- Malnutrition
- Mediastinal cancer
- Milroy's Disease
- Motrin
- Musculoskeletal trauma
- Myocardial Infarction
- Neoplasm
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Nifedipine
- Norvasc
- Osteomyelitis
- Peripheral nerve lesion
- Premenstrual edema
- Right heart failure
- Scleroderma
- Sepsis syndrome
- Snakebites
- Starvation edema
- Sunburn
- Surgical excision
- Tendonous strain
- Thoracic aneurysm
- Thrombophlebitis
- Thrombosis
- Tight clothing
- Trichinosis
- Tumors
- Varicose veins
Complete Differential Diagnosis of the Causes of ...
(By organ system)
Cardiovascular |
AV fistula, Constrictive pericarditis, Left heart failure, Myocardial Infarction, Right heart failure, Thoracic aneurysm, Thrombophlebitis, Thrombosis, Varicose veins, |
Chemical / poisoning | |
Dermatologic |
Carbuncle, Cellulitis, Contact dermatitis, Contusion, Erysipelas, Gas gangrene, |
Drug Side Effect | amlodipine, diltiazem, estrogen, ibuprofen, motrin, nifedipine, norvasc |
Ear Nose Throat | No underlying causes |
Endocrine |
Addison's Disease, Cushing's Syndrome, Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, |
Environmental | |
Gastroenterologic |
Exudative enteropathy, Liver failure, Malabsorption,
|
Genetic | No underlying causes |
Hematologic | Anemia, |
Iatrogenic | No underlying causes |
Infectious Disease | |
Musculoskeletal / Ortho |
Fracture, Gout, Ligamentous sprain, Osteomyelitis, |
Neurologic |
Peripheral nerve lesion, |
Nutritional / Metabolic |
Acquired C1-esterase inhibitor deficiency, Beriberi, Malnutrition, Starvation edema, |
Obstetric/Gynecologic |
Amniotic band syndrome, Peripartum cardiomyopathy, Premenstrual edema, |
Oncologic |
Mediastinal cancer, |
Opthalmologic | No underlying causes |
Overdose / Toxicity | No underlying causes |
Psychiatric | |
Pulmonary | |
Renal / Electrolyte |
Acute glomerulonephritis, Bartter's Syndrome, Nephrotic Syndrome, |
Rheum / Immune / Allergy |
Angioneurotic edema, Cachexia, Lymph node mass, Scleroderma, Sepsis syndrome, |
Sexual | No underlying causes |
Trauma | |
Urologic | No underlying causes |
Miscellaneous |
Idiopathic edema, Milroy's Disease, Sepsis syndrome, Tight clothing, |
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
- History should include:
- DVT risk factors
- time lapse
- other associated symptoms
- unilateral vs. bilateral
- pitting and/or non-pitting
(Images courtesy of Charlie Goldberg, M.D., UCSD School of Medicine and VA Medical Center, San Diego, CA)
Laboratory Findings
- Labs include:
Chest X Ray
- Chest X-Ray may indicate pulmonary edema and/or cardiomegaly
Echocardiography or Ultrasound
- Duplex ultrasound for DVT
- Echocardiography for EF in patients with CHF
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Acute Pharmacotherapies
Chronic Pharmacotherapies
- DVT: Anticoagulation with unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparin / warfarin for 3-6 months
Indications for Surgery
- Nephrotic syndrome: transplant in adult patients may be necessary
- Cirrhosis: liver transplant may be necessary
Additional therapies
- Venous insufficiency: Leg elevation, compression stockings, minimize time standing
- Cellulitis: extremity elevation
- CHF: Salt restrictions
- Cirrhosis: Diuretics & low salt diet
Prognosis
Successful treatment depends on control of the underlying cause. Severe swelling can cause permanent damage to nerves, resulting in peripheral neuropathy. Many cases from temporary or minor causes resolve on their own, with no lasting damage.
Acknowledgements
The content on this page was first contributed by: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D.
References
Additional Resources
- Cho S, Atwood J (2002). "Peripheral edema". Am J Med. 113 (7): 580–6. doi:10.1016/S0002-9343(02)01322-0. PMID 12459405.