What does noncardiac pulmonary edema do?

Difficulty breathing: In non cardiogenic pulmonary edema the lungs are filled with fluid and become stiff. This means the work of breathing is increased. In addition the alveoli or tiny air sacs are filled with fluid such that gas exchange can not occur, in particular in becomes hard to get oxygen into the blood. All of this combines to produce impaired lung function and even respiratory failure.