Unilateral pulmonary oedema due to lung re-expansion following pleurocentesis for spontaneous pneumothorax. The role of non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure ventilation

• Published in: International journal of cardiology Vol. 114; no. 3; pp. 398 - 400
• Main Authors: Papakonstantinou, Dimitrios K, Gatzioufas, Zisis I, Tzegas, Georgios I, Stergiopoulos, Panagiotis I, Tsokantaridis, Christos G, Chalikias, Georgios K, Tziakas, Dimitrios N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 18-01-2007; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular; Chest Tubes - adverse effects; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pneumology; Pneumothorax - complications; Pneumothorax - therapy; Pulmonary Edema - etiology; Pulmonary Edema - therapy; Re-expansion pulmonary oedema; Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases; Spontaneous pneumothorax; Continuous positive airway pressure; Spontaneous pneumothorax; Re-expansion pulmonary oedema; Pneumothorax; Effusion; Respiratory disease; Continuous; Lung; Spontaneous; Artificial ventilation; Phlebology; Positive pressure; Non invasive method; Unilateral; Pleural disease; Circulatory system; Cardiology; Expansion; Mechanical ventilation
• ISSN: 0167-5273; 1874-1754
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2005.11.084

Abstract Re-expansion pulmonary oedema represents a rare complication of treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax with only a few cases documented in the current literature. We present the case of a 47-year-old male who presented a right-sided spontaneous pneumothorax and developed respiratory failure after chest tube drainage. The diagnosis of re-expansion pulmonary oedema was made and he was successfully treated with non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure ventilation. Since pathogenesis of re-expansion unilateral pulmonary oedema differs significantly from that of cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, the role of non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure ventilation is discussed as an additional therapeutic option.