Unexpected complications of pulmonary edema

Abstract

The article illustrates the case report of a patient, an elderly woman, admitted in the Emergency Department (ED) with acute pulmonary edema, which was quickly solved through a well-timed application of the therapeutic protocols. At first, the course of the treatment was positive, but some complications developed because of the long stay in the hospital, specifically a decubitus ulcer; this condition quickly evolved regardless of the proper treatment, and caused a progressive fall of the general clinical status of the patient. Within the ER, some state-of-the-art clinical apparatus (protocols, unintrusive ventilation) are available for even the treatment of the worst conditions. ED overcrowding – with full occupancy of beds and long waits of patients – is related to greater risk of poor outcomes. One of the risks is to expose the patient to serious complications, that are note related to the reason of admission in hospital, but, paradoxically, are caused by the prolonged hospitalization in ED.