Intensive Care Medicine (ICM) Practice Exam

Which of the following is not a common finding of cardiogenic pulmonary edema?

1. Frothy sputum

2. Tachypnea

3. Lobar consolidation

4. Cough

The correct answer is: Frothy sputum

Frothy sputum is typically associated with cardiogenic pulmonary edema and indicates the presence of fluid in the alveoli due to congestive heart failure. It is characterized by a pink, frothy appearance because it contains a mixture of air and fluid, often resembling foam. The presence of frothy sputum illustrates the severity of pulmonary congestion and reflects impaired gas exchange. Tachypnea, or rapid breathing, is a common response to the impaired oxygenation resulting from fluid in the lungs. Patients with cardiogenic pulmonary edema often exhibit increased respiratory rates due to hypoxemia and the discomfort caused by pulmonary congestion. Cough is also a typical symptom in patients with cardiogenic pulmonary edema, as the accumulation of fluid can irritate the airways, prompting a cough reflex. This symptom may accompany the frothy sputum as the body attempts to clear the excess fluid. Lobar consolidation, typically seen in pneumonia, is not a finding directly associated with cardiogenic pulmonary edema. In cardiogenic pulmonary edema, the fluid typically causes diffuse bilateral infiltrates rather than localized lobar consolidation. Thus, this option does not align with the common findings seen in cardiogenic pulmonary edema.