Post Obstructive Pulmonary Edema: A Rare and Preventable Etiology of Postoperative Respiratory Distress-Juniper Publishers
JUNIPER PUBLISHERS - OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY & CARDIOVASCULAR THERAPY Abstract We report the case of a 25-year-old man who developed Postobstructive pulmonary edema after an elective surgery of an inguinal hernia. Postobstructive pulmonary edema is a rare and severe complication of general anesthesia. Differential diagnosis includes other causes of early postoperative respiratory distress. Treatment is supportive. Identification of risk situation and compliance with anesthesia/postoperative care guidelines are the keystones of prevention. Keywords: Postobstructive pulmonary edema; Negative pressure pulmonary edema; Elective surgery Introduction Postobstructive pulmonary edema (POPE) is a rare, life- threatening complication of general anesthesia that usually occurs in young healthy individuals. It results from strong inspiratory efforts against upper airway obstruction (UAO) causing an acute and significant drop i...