It is Friday afternoon and, checking your screen, you see your last free appointment has been given to a patient you have seen in the past for routine blood tests. This time when she enters the room you observe that her legs are covered with what looks like kitchen roll, and she is wearing supermarket carrier bags over her feet to protect her shoes. For many of us, this is a ‘heart sink’ patient – with heavy, wet and oedematous legs that are difficult to manage. To be able to manage this type of condition we first need to understand the possible causes of oedema, to identify patients who may be at risk for developing the problem, and to be aware when early intervention could be of benefit.
