Pulmonary Oedema Management: Key Statements

This section analyzes the management strategies for acute pulmonary oedema based on the provided statements.

Statement Analysis

• Statement 1: Put the patient in relaxed, supine position
  This is incorrect. Patients with acute pulmonary oedema typically benefit from a sitting or semi-recumbent position. This posture helps reduce venous return to the heart and facilitates easier breathing compared to a supine (lying flat) position.
• Statement 2: Give high flow, high concentration oxygen
  This is correct. Acute pulmonary oedema causes severe difficulty breathing and low oxygen levels (hypoxemia). High-flow, high-concentration oxygen therapy is crucial to improve oxygenation promptly.
• Statement 3: Administer Furosemide intravenously
  This is correct. Intravenous furosemide (a loop diuretic) is a standard treatment. It helps remove excess fluid from the body by increasing urine output, thereby reducing the fluid in the lungs and the workload on the heart.
• Statement 4: No role of Nitrates
  This is incorrect. Nitrates, such as nitroglycerin, can be beneficial in managing acute pulmonary oedema, particularly when high blood pressure is present. They act as vasodilators, reducing both the pressure the heart pumps against (afterload) and the volume returning to the heart (preload), which can alleviate symptoms.

Conclusion on Management

Based on the analysis:

• Statement 1 is false.
• Statement 2 is true.
• Statement 3 is true.
• Statement 4 is false.

Therefore, the correct statements regarding the management of acute pulmonary oedema are 2 and 3.