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 Cerebral edema Cerebral edema is excess accumulation of fluid (edema) in the intracellular or extracellular spaces of the brain. Most changes in morphology are associated with cerebral edema: the brain becomes soft and smooth and overfills the cranial vault, gyri become flattened, sulci become narrowed, and ventricular cavities become compressed. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, faintness, and in severe cases, seizures and coma. If brain herniation occurs, respiratory symptoms or respiratory arrest can also occur due to compression of the respiratory centres in the pons and medulla oblongata. Cerebral edema can result from brain trauma or from nontraumatic causes