Negative pressure pulmonary edema in the prone position: a case report

Abstract

Acute airway obstruction can result in life - threatening pulmonary edema. It can develop rapidly, without warning, in otherwise healthy patients. Negative pressure pulmonary edema has been described after acute airway obstruction in situations when a patient is breathing against an obstructed airway such as croup, epiglottitis or laryngospasm. In the following case, we observed a rare occurrence of pulmonary edema in a female following sedation in the prone position.

Negative Pressure Pulmonary Oedema After Septoplasty

“…3 Its true incidence is unknown; some authors indicate that it is produced in 11% of patients who require an active intervention of the airway for acute obstruction. 4,5 In our review, we found 34 cases reported, mostly male (26/34 or 76%). 7,8 Average age was 31 years (range: 14---67 years).…”

“…14 A respiratory clinical exam during the immediate postoperative period will identify the presence of signs of lung oedema, as long as the presence of stridor, pulmonary crackling and respiratory insufficiency, assessed using pulse oxygen analysis, are taken into account. 4,10,12 Spontaneous resolution of the entity in mild cases and resolution with few therapeutic measures contribute to the under diagnosis of the problem. It should be emphasised that it is important to keep this condition in mind following any type of surgical intervention in healthy, young patients who present hypoxaemia not explained by other causes and establish the therapeutic measures needed to avoid an unfavourable patient evolution.…”

As a Rare Reason of Alveolar Consolidation, Negative Pressure Pulmonary Edema: Case Report

“…However, the most frequently known cause of NPPE in adults is laryngospasm after extubation 8,9 . It has been reported that NPPE is more common in healthy young adults who have well-developed inspiratory muscles and can generate this pressure easily 10 .…”