Early perioperative death associated with reexpansion pulmonary edema during liver transplantation

Hydrothorax is a frequent finding in patients with end-stage liver disease. During the hepatectomy phase of liver transplantation, it is often needed to evacuate large pleural effusions. The acute expansion of the collapsed lung can cause reexpansion pulmonary edema with variable clinical significance. However, this complication has rarely been reported after liver transplantation. In conclusion, we report on an overwhelming reexpansion pulmonary edema during a liver transplantation that rapidly led to the patient's demise and speculate if this condition has not been under recognized in the transplantation setting.