Life-threatening, acute development of alveolar lung edema due to one or more of the following:

1. Elevation of hydrostatic pressure in the pulmonary capillaries (left heart failure, mitral stenosis).
2. Specific precipitants (Table 13-1), resulting in cardiogenic pulmonary edema in pts with previously compensated heart failure or without previous cardiac history.
3. Increased permeability of pulmonary alveolar-capillary membrane (noncardiogenic pulmonary edema). For common causes, see Table 13-2.