[Pulmonary edema due to peroperative overload or anesthetic awakening]

This report gives details of the clinical characteristics, the circumstances of onset and the treatment. There is always a blood volume overload, but the absolute value does not differ radically from that often necessary to maintain during heavy or hemorrhagic surgery, good hemodynamic conditions. The association with other factors seems necessary, in particular the redistribution in blood volum which occurs during awakening or reduction in anesthesia. Treatment by reduction in blood volume (bleeding, diuretics) is often insufficient. Many cases require mechanical ventilation for several days. Ventilation under continuous positive pressure may even be essential. The frequency of these accidents may even rise for several reasons: vasoplegic anesthesia, routine restoration of blood volume for hemodynamic reasons or to protect the kidneys, occasional failure of C.V.P. as means of control of this restoration, wider and wider use of red cells concentrates and colloids without precise knowledge of their properties.