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Negative pressure pulmonary edema in the prone position: a case report
Hesham Omar1, Jaya Kolla, Amrat Anand
1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cairo University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt, Visiting Scholar at Tampa General Hospital, Florida Gulf to Bay Anesthesiology Associates, PA, Tampa, Florida, USA. hesham_engy2008@yahoo.com
Cases Journal
|October 16, 2009
Summary
Acute airway obstruction can cause life-threatening pulmonary edema, even in healthy individuals. This case highlights a rare instance of pulmonary edema occurring in a female after sedation in the prone position.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Acute airway obstruction is a critical condition that can rapidly lead to life-threatening pulmonary edema.
- Negative pressure pulmonary edema (NPPE) typically occurs when a patient breathes against an obstructed airway, seen in conditions like croup or laryngospasm.
Observation:
- This case report details a rare occurrence of pulmonary edema.
- The event happened in a female patient following sedation.
- The patient was in the prone position during sedation.
Findings:
- Pulmonary edema developed in a patient sedated in the prone position.
- This presentation is unusual, as NPPE is commonly associated with upper airway obstruction during spontaneous respiration.
Implications:
- This case expands the understanding of potential causes and presentations of pulmonary edema.
- It suggests that sedation in the prone position may be a risk factor for developing pulmonary edema.
- Further investigation into the mechanisms of pulmonary edema in this specific context is warranted.
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