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Tumescent liposuction complicated by pulmonary edema
1Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Tumescent liposuction involves large fluid volumes. A rare case of pulmonary edema occurred in a healthy male bodybuilder, but he recovered quickly with diuretics.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Anesthesiology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Tumescent liposuction utilizes large volumes of dilute lidocaine and epinephrine for fat preparation.
- This technique offers anesthetic and hemodynamic advantages with few reported cardiopulmonary complications.
Observation:
- A healthy 55-year-old male bodybuilder developed pulmonary edema following tumescent liposuction.
- The patient received substantial fluid volumes: 7900 cc subcutaneously and 2200 cc intravenously.
Findings:
- This is the first reported case of pulmonary edema in over 900 patients undergoing tumescent liposuction with up to 15 liters of parenteral infusion.
- The patient had normal cardiopulmonary and renal function prior to the event.
Implications:
- Pulmonary edema is a rare but potential complication of tumescent liposuction, even in healthy individuals.
- Prompt treatment with intravenous diuretics led to a full recovery without sequelae.
- This case highlights the importance of vigilant monitoring for fluid overload during and after extensive liposuction procedures.