Postobstructive pulmonary edema after laparoscopic surgery.

Kim, Ji Hyang; Kim, Su Yeon

Case Report

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2006;49(1):219-223.
Published online January 1, 2006.

Postobstructive pulmonary edema after laparoscopic surgery.

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Pocheon CHA University, Seoul, Korea.
²Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, Pocheon CHA University, Seoul, Korea. pangshu@freechal.com

Abstract

Negative pressure pulmonary edema (also known as postobstructive pulmonary edema) is a medical emergency that usually arises from attempted ventilations against an acutely obstructed upper airway, such as occurs during laryngospasm. Often this occurs in the perioperative period when general anesthesia is used. It is most important to the clinician because it must be promptly recognized and appropriately managed. Since hypoxia is the chief problem associated with this complication, adequate oxygen saturation remains the primary goal of treatment. We report a case of a 42-year-old female patient who was submitted to laparoscopic tubal reversal under general anesthesia and developed negative pressure pulmonary edema after an acute airway obstruction.

Key Words: Negative pressure pulmonary edema, General anesthesia, Upper airway obstruction, Laryngospasm