Edema Edema Edema, also spelled oedema or œdema, is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the interstitium, located beneath the skin and in the cavities of the body, which can cause severe pain. Clinically, edema manifests as swelling. The amount of interstitial fluid is determined by the balance of fluid homeostasis and the increased secretion of fluid into the interstitium. The word is from Greek "oídēma" meaning "swelling". The condition is also known (mostly archaic) as dropsy. Cutaneous edema is referred to as "pitting" when, after pressure is applied to a small area, the indentation persists after the release of the
Cerebral edema and coma. Interstitial edema occurs in obstructive hydrocephalus due to a rupture of the CSF–brain barrier. This results in trans-ependymal flow of CSF, causing CSF to penetrate the brain and spread to the extracellular spaces and the white matter. Interstitial cerebral edema differs from vasogenic edema as CSF contains almost no protein. Treatment approaches can include osmotherapy using mannitol, diuretics to decrease fluid volume, corticosteroids to suppress the immune system, hypertonic saline, and surgical decompression to allow the brain tissue room to swell without compressive injury. Many studies of the mechanical properties of brain edema were conducted in the 2010s,