Congestion

Congestion is a pathological term referring to reduced blood flow out from tissues, which may be localized or systemic ¹.

Clinical presentation

Congestion commonly presents with increased swelling and edema of tissues where blood flow is reduced. With prolonged congestion, the tissues may become hypoxic turning blue in color due to the presence of deoxygenated hemoglobin ¹. Clinical presentation may be as a widespread or localized edema depending on the cause.

Pathology

Etiology

Congestion has may causes, which may be localized or systemic. These include, but are not limited to the following:

• localized:
  • extrinsic compression of a vein
  • stenosis of a vein
  • vasoconstriction
  • vasculitis
• systemic:
  • congestive cardiac failure
  • renal failure
  • hepatic failure