What causes ankle edema after delivery in a heart patient?

Question

Hello doctor,

My daughter was pregnant and experienced severe edema. The doctors said it was normal. However, she was later transferred by ambulance to another hospital after going into heart failure, with extremely high BNP levels, and the baby had to be induced. She has since returned to her original hospital, but the severe edema around her ankles persists, and no action is being taken. What can I do?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

If the BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) levels were high, it is likely due to heart failure, as you mentioned. For the ankle edema, she should be given diuretics (medications that reduce fluid retention in the body), and fluid intake should be restricted to less than 0.29 gallons per day. Additionally, appropriate heart failure medications should be started. An echocardiogram is also necessary to identify the underlying cause of the heart failure.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.