Fatal recurrent reexpansion pulmonary edema

A case is reported of fatal recurrent unilateral reexpansion pulmonary edema following thoracentesis in a woman with stage IV ovarian adenocarcinoma. Reexpansion pulmonary edema is a rare complication resulting from reexpansion of a collapsed lung after treatment of pleural effusion, pneumothorax, or atelectasis. The etiology is unknown, and there are no guaranteed measures of prevention. The clinical presentation varies from asymptomatic to rapidly progressive fatal pulmonary edema. The diagnosis is established by chest x-ray. Depending on the severity of the clinical symptoms, treatment varies from monitoring with serial chest x-rays to mechanical ventilation. Reexpansion pulmonary edema is fatal in 20% of cases. Gynecologists should be aware of this rare entity because it may require immediate diagnosis and aggressive treatment.