title: Extravascular lung water. Concepts in clinical application.
abstract: EVLW holds the potential to serve as a better clinical end point to clinical decision than current cardiopulmonary parameters. Evidence is present that the use of EVLW data may improve patient outcome, particularly in the population of high EVLW and low PCWP. The key area of clinical value with EVLW is the importance of understanding that EVLW may not be readily predicted by current methods. Nursing assessment needs to incorporate the limitations of current methods to estimate EVLW. Use of EVLW values in clinical settings is dependent on improved technological devices that would allow for easier measurement. The current methods consume substantial nursing time to perform, limiting practicality in clinical settings. The ideal device will not only be easy to use but will be noninvasive. This device has not yet been developed.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ahrens
mesh_terms: D002302:Cardiac Output; D015633:Extravascular Lung Water / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D013318:Stroke Volume