2. loss of vascular tone causes pooling of blood in arterioles and veins b. Anaphylactic 1. Septic Shock 1. Discussion Edema is an increase in fluid volume, mostly in the interstitial fluid compartment, but it may also occur in the intracellular fluid compartment. It is very important, clinically, to be able to describe edema as thoroughly and as detailed as possible. Therefore, many adjectives and terms can be used to describe differing conditions.
Generalized edema means an expansion of both the interstitial and intracellular fluid compartments.
Anasarca is a term used to mean a generalized massive edema involving all parts of the body, including the genitalia, chest wall and arms. Third spacing means a shift of large amounts of fluid from the intravascular to the interstitial. If edema in the interstitial space is caused because the lymphatic vessels, which normally drain the tissues, are blocked, then you have lymphedema . If the area of edema, after being palpated by an examiner, leaves a pit, then it is called pitting edema and can be scored on a scale of 1 - 4. Sometimes edema, upon palpation, does not produce a pit, then you have non pitting edema.