小结
外周水肿是指在四肢组织中存在过多的间质液，从而引起可触及的肿胀。[1] 当微血管渗透并因此产生间质液且在一段持续时间内快于淋巴引流，就会出现水肿。这可能是因为微血管渗透率高，或淋巴液流速低，或两者兼而有之。[2]
[Figure caption and citation for the preceding image starts]: 水肿的发生：血流中的血液滤过与淋巴系统引流之间失衡由 BMJ Knowledge Centre 创建 [Citation ends].
人体内有很多维持间质液平衡的自我平衡机制，这些机制不堪重负时，体液积累成为明显的外周水肿。通过病史、体格检查和针对性评估得到的线索有助于确定影响淋巴引流和微血管渗透的因素。在许多患者中，外周水肿由多因素导致。
当外周水肿主要是由淋巴引流不足引起时，称为淋巴水肿。
鉴别诊断
撰稿人
作者
Associate Professor, College of Nursing
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver
CO
利益声明
LDR declares that she has no competing interests.
Professor of Medicine
Division of Hospital Medicine
Department of Internal Medicine
University of Colorado
Denver
CO
利益声明
EC declares that he has no competing interests.
同行评议者
Associate Professor
Department of Cardiology
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston
TX
利益声明
SWY declares that he has no competing interests.
Basic Physician Trainee RACP
Logan Hospital
Meadowbrook
Queensland
Australia
利益声明
PR declares that he has no competing interests.
内容使用需遵循免责声明