Engorgement

In biology, engorgement is a naturally occurring or pathological condition of vessels being saturated with fluids. It may happen for instance in the breast or in other erectile tissues like the penis.

Neck vein engorgement is a sign or symptom of Cardiogenic Shock.

See also

• Chronic venous congestion
• Vascular congestion, the engorgement of an entity, such as the blood vessels of the erectile tissues, with blood
• Vascularity, in bodybuilding, the condition of having prominent, visible veins with muscle engorgement
• Tumescence, the normal engorgement with blood (vascular congestion ) of the erectile tissues
• Erection

Breast engorgement may lead to mastitis (inflammation of the breast) and untreated engorgement puts pressure on the milk ducts, often causing a plugged duct. Breast engorgement may lead to mastitis either to stasis of milk or through external infection through the nipple. The most likely organism associated with mastitis is Staphloccocus Aureus seen most commonly in lactating females. The woman will often feel a lump in one part of the breast, and the skin in that area may be red and/or warm with pain during feeding and crusting of the nipple. The engorgement presents as inflammation resembling cellulitis of the extremities in many of its characteristics. The treatment though seems counterintuitive unless one understands the pathophysiology associated with it. The treatment is to continue breast feeding from the affected breast to increase drainage of ducts and decrease the engorgement. Antibiotics may be used concurrently or if engorgement is refractory to drainage of the breast.