Acute unilateral reexpansion pulmonary edema after pleuropulmonary decortication

Abstract

The development of unilateral pulmonary edema at the time of reexpansion is a rare complication often associated with aspirational drainage of a pneumothorax. It has been described exceptionally in the postoperative course of a pleural surgery. The main involved factors are prolonged atelectasis, reexpansion pulmonary effusion, the importance and duration of pleural effusion. This complication must be known to anesthesiologist during thoracic surgery for its mortality, which is evaluated at 20% in the litterature and that an early diagnosis allows the an effective treatment. We report an acute respiratory distress in the immediate postoperative course of pleuropulmonary decortication for a recurrent tuberculous pleurisy. Keywords: Unilateral Pulmonary Edema, Pneumothorax, Pleural Effusion.