[Early acute pulmonary oedema happening during peritoneovenous by pass (author's transl)]

The authors report the cases of two cirrhotic patients without cardiac failure who underwent peritoneo-venous bypass (Leveen valve). On the two cases an acute pulmonary oedema (APE) serious but not fatal was noted at the 36e hour. This one was associated with a rise of cardiac output and a moderate rise of the pulmonary wedge pressure (15-18 mm Hg). The administration of thiamine did not correct these perturbations but small doses of furosemide corrected the APE. Despite the low frequency of the cases of APE after Leveen bypass and their mechanism not definitevely known, the authors recommend in pre-, per- and post-operative period the monitoring of cardiac function with a right catheterism.