Acute Pulmonary Edema in a Patient undergoing Appendectomy under Spinal Anesthesia

Abstract

Acute pulmonary edema, accumulation of large amount of fluid in the interstitial and alveolar space, in patients undergoing surgeries poses a great challenge to the Anesthetist. If not treated well, it could be associated with high mortality rate up to 40%. We report a case of a patient aged 21 years undergoing emergency appendectomy under spinal anesthesia who developed acute Negative Pressure Pulmonary Edema and was successfully managed. His preoperative blood investigations were normal and had no other comorbidities.