[Post-obstructive pulmonary edema following extubation--report of two cases]

Abstract

Pulmonary edema may develop in healthy patients after anesthesia. It usually results from upper airway obstruction which may be caused by laryngospasm or aspiration. Increased inspiratory effort following airway obstruction significantly produces negative intrathoracic pressure that may lead to pulmonary edema. We reported two cases of post-obstructive pulmonary edema following extubation. They were essentially healthy young males, one of whom received urethroplasty and the other received pulmonary blebectomy. Their hemodynamic and ventilatory conditions had been kept stable during surgery. Upper airway obstruction followed by pulmonary edema developed immediately after extubation, which was successfully treated without any sequelae.