Re-expansion pulmonary oedema following one-lung ventilation--a case report

Acute ipsilateral or bilateral pulmonary oedema following lung re-expansion after pleurocentesis or treatment of pneumothorax is an unusual clinical phenomenon that may have serious consequences. It usually occurs when the chronically collapsed lung is rapidly re-expanded. There are, however, no reported cases of this complication following one-lung ventilation used to facilitate surgery. A report of the occurrence of unilateral re-expansion oedema in a young female undergoing scoliosis correction is described.