Pulmonary edema as a complication of acute airway obstruction

C. E. Oswalt, G. A. Gates and M. G. Holmstrom

Acute fulminating pulmonary edema developed in three patients after acute airway obstruction secondary to tumor, strangulation, and interrupted hanging (one case each). The common etiologic factor was vigorous inspiratory effort against a totally obstructed upper airway. Acute pulmonary edema followed the event in minutes to hours and required ventilatory assistance to maintain oxygenation. All patients eventually responded to fluid restriction, diuretics, and steroids. One case was complicated by aspiration of gastric contents following respiratory failure. To our knowledge, this condition is previously unreported in English literature. We presume that the pathogenesis is related to alveolar and capillary damage, induced by the severe negative pressure generated by attempting to inspire against the closed upper airway.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Case report: Unilateral negative pressure pulmonary edema - a complication of endobronchial intubation: [Presentation de cas : l'{oelig}deme pulmonaire par pression negative unilaterale, une complication de l'intubation endobronchique]
Goodman and Richardson
Canadian J. Anesthesia 2008;55:691-695.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Postobstructive Pulmonary Edema: A Case for Hydrostatic Mechanisms
Fremont et al.
Chest 2007;131:1742-1746.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Contralateral pulmonary edema following surgical repair of a ruptured hemidiaphragm
Endo et al.
ICVTS 2006;5:109-110.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Negative-Pressure Pulmonary Edema After Routine Septorhinoplasty: Discussion of Pathophysiology, Treatment, and Prevention
Westreich et al.
Arch Facial Plast Surg 2006;8:8-15.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Chest Tube Suction-Associated Unilateral Negative Pressure Pulmonary Edema in a Lung Transplant Patient
Memtsoudis et al.
Anesth. Analg. 2005;101:38-40.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Negative Pressure Pulmonary Edema as an Unsuspected Imitator of Acute Lung Injury/ARDS
Ackland and Mythen
Chest 2005;127:1867-1868.
FULL TEXT  

Unilateral Negative-Pressure Pulmonary Edema in an Infant During Bronchoscopy
Hannania et al.
Pediatrics 2004;113:e501-e503.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Pulmonary oedema induced by a piece of chicken
Ranta et al.
JRSM 2002;95:404-405.
FULL TEXT  

Pulmonary Edema Associated With Child Abuse: Case Reports and Review of the Literature
Rubin et al.
Pediatrics 2001;108:769-775.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Pulmonary Edema Develops after Recurrent Obstructive Apneas
FLETCHER et al.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 1999;160:1688-1696.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Negative Pressure Pulmonary Hemorrhage
Schwartz et al.
Chest 1999;115:1194-1197.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Postoperative pulmonary edema in young, athletic adults
Holmes et al.
Am J Sports Med 1991;19:365-371.
ABSTRACT