Predictors of pulmonary edema formation during fluid loading in the critically ill with presumed hypovolemia*

Abstract

Extravascular lung water increase during fluid loading in the critically ill is predicted by a plateau of cardiac function and pulmonary vascular filling at baseline, rather than by pulmonary vascular permeability and filling pressures. Increasing extravascular lung water is further reflected by a decrease of PaO2/FIO2 ratio. These observations may help preventing pulmonary fluid overloading.