What to Expect When You're Not Expecting it: Reexpansion Pulmonary Edema Following Tube Thoracostomy for Pneumothorax

Yu-Lin Hsieh

《胸腔醫學》 39卷1期 (2024/03) Pp. 51-54

摘要

Symptomatic reexpansion pulmonary edema (RPE) is an extremely rare complication following tube thoracostomy for pneumothorax, with a mortality rate up to 20% [1]. It can occur in chronic pneumothorax with rapid decompressive treatment or pleural effusion with excessive tapping. Ultimately, the risk factors remain unclear. A 61-year-old man suffered from chest tightness and shortness of breath for about a week. Chest X-ray showed significant right-side pneumothorax. Coughing and desaturation developed 20 minutes after tube thoracostomy. Follow-up X-ray revealed a partial reexpanded right lung. The patient was given diuretics and hydrocortisone, along with CPAP support. The pulmonary edema resolved gradually over 4 days, and the patient underwent VATS bullectomy successfully.

關鍵字

Pneumothorax ； tube thoracostomy ； reexpansion pulmonary edema (RPE)