Connect
MJA
MJA

Pitting and non-pitting oedema

Elizabeth Whiting and Madeline E McCready
Med J Aust 2016; 205 (4): . || doi: 10.5694/mja16.00416
Published online: 15 August 2016

The distinction is essential to determine aetiology and treatment

Oedema can be divided into two types: pitting and non-pitting. These types are relatively easy to distinguish clinically and the distinction is essential to determine aetiology and treatment.


  • 1 Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, QLD
  • 2 Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD



Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

  • 1. Talley NJ, O’Connor S. Clinical examination: a systematic guide to physical diagnosis. 6th ed. Sydney: Elsevier, 2010.
  • 2. Grey Bruce Health Network. Assessment of pitting edema. Ontario: Guelph General Hospital Congestive Heart Failure Pathway, 2009. http://www.gbhn.ca/ebc/documents/ASSESSMENTOFPITTINGEDEMA.pdf (accessed Apr 2016).
  • 3. Scallan J, Huxley VH, Korthuis RJ. Pathophysiology of edema formation. Capillary fluid exchange: regulation, functions, and pathology. San Rafael: Morgan and Claypool Life Sciences, 2010: pp 47-62. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK53445/ (accessed Apr 2016).
  • 4. Wiig H, Swartz MA. Interstitial fluid and lymph formation and transport: physiological regulation and roles in inflammation and cancer. Physiol Rev 2012; 92: 1005-1060.
  • 5. Trayes KP, Studdiford JS, Pickle S, Tully A. Edema: diagnosis and management. Am Fam Physician 2013; 88: 102-110.

Author

remove_circle_outline Delete Author
add_circle_outline Add Author

Comment
Do you have any competing interests to declare? *

I/we agree to assign copyright to the Medical Journal of Australia and agree to the Conditions of publication *
I/we agree to the Terms of use of the Medical Journal of Australia *
Email me when people comment on this article

Online responses are no longer available. Please refer to our instructions for authors page for more information.