Acute pulmonary edema may be associated with the most varied clinical conditions including cardiovascular, renal, cerebral, and pulmonary diseases, trauma to the skull or chest, infections, and shock. Many drugs and physical means have been employed in the treatment of this syndrome. Two main clinical types of pulmonary edema may be differentiated because of the different effect of therapy in each of them. Antifoaming therapy, a purely symptomatic method of treatment, tends to break a vicious circle and may be lifesaving. It should be employed initially while the patient is being examined and drugs or other remedies are being selected for possible additional treatment.