Negative pressure pulmonary edema after craniotomy through the endonasal transsphenoidal approach

We describe a case of negative pressure pulmonary edema that occurred in the post-anesthesia care unit in a patient who had undergone transsphenoidal resection of a pituitary adenoma. Negative pressure pulmonary edema is an uncommon complication of general anesthesia. In this case, the patient's nasal cavity had been filled with surgical packs and she had not become accustomed to breathing through her mouth, in addition to her large tongue and small oropharyngeal cavity, residual effect of anesthetic may resulting in tongue falling which caused airway obstruction. The main causative factor is excessive negative intrathoracic pressure generated by the patient's spontaneous forced inspiration in an effort to overcome the airway obstruction. It typically developed rapidly, and may be life threatening if not diagnosed promptly. After re-intubation for a short period of mechanical ventilation with positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP 10 cm H2O) and a bolus of intravenous furosemide, the patient recovered rapidly and discharged 8 days after surgery.