Swelling vs. Edema

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Hey, quick question for you folk. I work on an ortho-surgical floor. Many of my patients have some swelling to their affected extremity. Lot's of the nurses document this as edema--so, on the flow sheet for a person who had a right total knee done, they will say there is edema to that knee.

I always thought edema implied an area of abnormal fluid collection, usually indicitave of a cardiac issue. Since operations NORMALLY make people swell a bit, I wouldn't count that as edema. Also, my impression is that "swelling" is different in that it doesn't necessarily pit, and it also is, by nature, more painful upon palpation--or, rather, the pain of edema has a different charachter than the pain of post-surgical swelling.

Any opionions out there?

Thanks

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

I always thought of swelling as a general term used to describe either edema or inflammation. Inflammation could be normal (as with your post-surgical site) or abnormal, and can include warmth, pain, or erythema to the site.

Edema can be pitting or nonpitting, and can be cool to touch.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

From my Taber's:

"edema: a local or generalized condition in which the body tissues contain an excessive amount of tissue fluid. ...

Etiology: Edema may result from increased permeability of the capillary walls; increased capillary pressure due to venous obstruction or heart failure; lumphatic obstruction; distrubances in renal function; reduction of plasma proteins; inflammatory conditions; fluid and electrolyte distrubances; malnutrition; starvation; or chemical substances such as bacterial toxins, venoms, caustic substances and histamine."

It continues on describing several types of edema including:

"inflammatory e. Edema associated with inflammation. The cause is assumed to be damage to the capillary endothelium. It is usually nonpitting and localized, and red, tender and warm."

Edema is a general term including various cardiopulmonary-induced conditions and inflammatory edema such as that seen in post-op sites.

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Maybe I'm being dense, but isn't "swelling" just the generic (and non-medical) term for edema? Think about it - swelling really means to just get bigger, right? Your ego can swell, you can swell with pride...I don't think you can edema with pride...

Basically swelling just emans it's bigger than normal, and edema is the medical term meaning abnormal fluid collection...or am I way off base here?

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
Maybe I'm being dense, but isn't "swelling" just the generic (and non-medical) term for edema? Think about it - swelling really means to just get bigger, right? Your ego can swell, you can swell with pride...I don't think you can edema with pride...

Basically swelling just emans it's bigger than normal, and edema is the medical term meaning abnormal fluid collection...or am I way off base here?

See Taber's definition above.

In the human body, the physiological/mechanical means of swelling -- getting larger -- is for fluid to collect in an area.

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
Maybe I'm being dense, but isn't "swelling" just the generic (and non-medical) term for edema? Think about it - swelling really means to just get bigger, right? Your ego can swell, you can swell with pride...I don't think you can edema with pride...

Basically swelling just emans it's bigger than normal, and edema is the medical term meaning abnormal fluid collection...or am I way off base here?

That's what I thought, too.

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Thanks everyone! I feel much more enlightened on the topic now.:idea:

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Specializes in I have an interest in Travel and OB/L&D.

A bit off topic but: Can anyone tell me what I can do to get rid of this edema that I've been having in my feet for over 10 years??? I have been to doctor after doctor and I've been tested for anemia, hypothyroidism, heart problems, the whole nine yards, and I'm told that I am perfectly healthy. (By the way, I'm only 23 years old).

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A bit off topic but: Can anyone tell me what I can do to get rid of this edema that I've been having in my feet for over 10 years??? I have been to doctor after doctor and I've been tested for anemia, hypothyroidism, heart problems, the whole nine yards, and I'm told that I am perfectly healthy. (By the way, I'm only 23 years old).

Sorry, no ideas. Anyway, we can't give medical or legal advice here. But I hope you find out what's wrong and can get it corrected.

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Specializes in I have an interest in Travel and OB/L&D.
Sorry, no ideas. Anyway, we can't give medical or legal advice here. But I hope you find out what's wrong and can get it corrected.

Oh okay, I didn't know that you all can't give medical or legal advice here. By the way, I'm still new to this forum and still learning. Thanks for letting me know. ;)

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