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HOME > Acute Crit Care > Volume 25(4); 2010 > Article
Case Report Ipsilateral Reexpansion Pulmonary Edema Developed after Decortication: A Case Report
Kyoung Hun Kim, Mi Rang Bang, Myong Su Chon, Jae Hang Shim, Woo Jae Jeon, Sang Yoon Cho, Woo Jong Shin, Jong Hoon Yeom

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2010.25.4.266
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, Korea. yeomjh@hanyang.ac.kr
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Reexpansion pulmonary edema (RPE) is a rare but sometimes fatal complication of the treatment of lung collapse secondary to pneumothorax, pleural effusion, or atelectasis. We experienced a case of RPE that developed following decortication. A 46 year-old female had a decortication for pyothorax under one-lung anesthesia. There was no event during the operation and results of arterial blood gas analysis were within normal limits. After the operation, tracheal extubation was performed and 100% oxygen saturation on a pulse oximeter (SpO2) was maintained with 100% O2, (8 L/min) via mask ventilation with self-respiration. The patient, with 50% Venturi mask, was transported to the intensive care unit (ICU). On arrival at the ICU, a SpO2 of 80% was detected and arterial blood gas analysis revealed hypoxemia with acute hypercapnic respiratory acidosis. Fortunately, reexpansion pulmonary edema was detected early and intensive treatment was performed using mechanical ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure. Tracheal extubation was performed after 1 day of mechanical ventilation. The reexpansion pulmonary edema was successfully treated and the patient recovered without any complications.


ACC : Acute and Critical Care