Oedema of the soft tissues due to increased body venous pressure from heart failure, especially right heart failure.
This usually presents as symmetrical sunken edema starting at a lower part of the body and can also present as a pleural effusion. Patients with pre-existing heart failure should consult a cardiologist promptly when edema develops and use diuretics appropriately according to the clinician’s instructions, manage their diet and weight, and avoid excessive water and sodium intake.