Cardiogenic
Congestive heart failure which is due to the hearts inability to pump the blood out of the pulmonary circulation at a sufficient rate resulting in elevation in pulmonary wedge pressure and edema – this usually is due to left ventricular failure, but may also be from arrhythmias, or fluid overload, (e.g. from kidney failure or intravenous therapy). Hypertensive crisis can cause pulmonary edema as the elevation in blood pressure and increased afterload on the left ventricle hinders forward flow in blood vessels and causes the elevation in wedge pressure and subsequent pulmonary edema. Non-cardiogenic
Negative pressure pulmonary edema in which a significant negative (internal) pressure in the chest (such as from an inhalation against an upper airway obstruction) ruptures capillaries and floods the alveoli with blood. Negative pressure pulmonary edema has an incidence in the range of 0.05-0.1% in cases of general anesthesia. The negative pressure causes a significant increase in preload, thereby increasing pulmonary blood volume. There is also a significant increase in left ventricular afterload, which causes a decreased cardiac output. The increase in pulmonary blood volume and pressure along with a decrease in cardiac output to the lungs will increase the pulmonary transudative pressures and the risk of pulmonary edema. With all this occurring, pulmonary vascular resistance increases causing a shift of the intraventricular septum. The ventricular septal shift to the left causes a left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, which further increases pulmonary hydrostatic pressures and the risk. Neurogenic causes  (seizures, head trauma, strangulation, electrocution).
Prevention of recurrence is based on managing or preventing hypertension, coronary artery disease, renovascular hypertension, and heart failure. Diagnosis
There is no single test for confirming that breathlessness is caused by pulmonary edema – there are many causes of shortness of breath; but there are methods to suggest a high probability of an edema. Low oxygen saturation in blood and disturbed arterial blood gas readings support the proposed diagnosis by suggesting a pulmonary shunt. A chest X-ray will show fluid in the alveolar walls, Kerley B lines, increased vascular shadowing in a classical batwing peri-hilum pattern, upper lobe diversion (biased blood flow to the superior parts instead of inferior parts of the lung), and possibly pleural effusions. In contrast, patchy alveolar infiltrates are more typically associated with noncardiogenic edemaLung ultrasounds, employed by a healthcare provider at the point of care, is also a useful tool to diagnose pulmonary edema; not only is it accurate, but it may quantify the degree of lung water, track changes over time, and differentiate between cardiogenic and non-cardiogenic edema.Especially in the case of cardiogenic pulmonary edema, urgent echocardiography may strengthen the diagnosis by demonstrating impaired left ventricular function, high central venous pressures and high pulmonary artery pressures leading to pulmonary edema. Blood tests are performed for electrolytes (sodium, potassium) and markers of renal function (creatinine, urea). Liver enzymes, inflammatory markers (usually C-reactive protein) and a complete blood count as well as coagulation studies (PT, aPTT) are also typically requested as further diagnosis.