Is the edema acute/sudden or chronic ? Is it unilateral or bilateral? Is the edema generalized or localized? Is it pitting or nonpitting? Is it dependent?

All students should complete Part 1, choose two (2) cases of your preference. All students should complete Part 2. Note: All case studies are provided as a learning tool for students who wish to have them.

Part 1 – Choose 2 of the 5 cases
The following activity includes several case presentations of edema. Make a diagnosis for each case, remembering the following questions:

Is the edema acute/sudden or chronic ?
Is it unilateral or bilateral? Is the edema generalized or localized?
Is it pitting or nonpitting?
Is it dependent?
In addition to edema, what other characteristics are associated with the edema ?
What is the pertinent past or coexisting medical history? What medications is the patient taking?
You may want to refer to chapter 3 and chapter 4 to help determine the diagnosis.

Case 1

45-year-old Mrs. Rodriguez is complaining of intermittent mild bilateral feet/ankle swelling for the past 2 months, but it is worse on her right leg. She denies leg pain, but she does describe her legs as feeling heavy at times and reports standing for long periods worsens the swelling. She notes her veins are getting larger in her legs. For the past 8 months, she has been experiencing intermittent numbness in her feet and reports her left knee has been achy. She is a server at a busy restaurant and sometimes works 10-hour days. She denies any fever, warmth, erythema, or trauma.

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