Biomaterial Database

Postobstructive pulmonary edema following anesthesia. 1990

I A Herrick, and B Mahendran, and F J Penny

Department of Anesthesia, University Hospital, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.

Pulmonary edema developing after the relief of upper airway obstruction has been reported in association with a diversity of etiologic factors, including hanging, strangulation, tumors, foreign bodies, goiter, and laryngospasm. Since 1977, 18 cases of adults with postobstructive pulmonary edema associated with anesthesia have been reported. A case is presented of a healthy 20-year-old male who developed pulmonary edema following two episodes of acute upper airway obstruction associated with general anesthesia. Postanesthetic laryngospasm has been implicated as the most frequent cause of this syndrome in adults. Risk factors for the development of upper airway obstruction have been identified in the majority of these cases. A heightened awareness among anesthesiologists of this poorly recognized and hence often perplexing syndrome may help reduce the occurrence and facilitate the treatment of this potential complication of perioperative airway management.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007442	Intubation, Intratracheal	A procedure involving placement of a tube into the trachea through the mouth or nose in order to provide a patient with oxygen and anesthesia.	Intubation, Endotracheal,Endotracheal Intubation,Endotracheal Intubations,Intratracheal Intubation,Intratracheal Intubations,Intubations, Endotracheal,Intubations, Intratracheal
D007826	Laryngismus	A disorder in which the adductor muscles of the VOCAL CORDS exhibit increased activity leading to laryngeal spasm. Laryngismus causes closure of the VOCAL FOLDS and airflow obstruction during inspiration.	Laryngospasm,Laryngeal Spasm,Laryngeal Spasms,Laryngospasms,Spasm, Laryngeal,Spasms, Laryngeal
D008297	Male		Males
D011183	Postoperative Complications	Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery.	Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D011654	Pulmonary Edema	Excessive accumulation of extravascular fluid in the lung, an indication of a serious underlying disease or disorder. Pulmonary edema prevents efficient PULMONARY GAS EXCHANGE in the PULMONARY ALVEOLI, and can be life-threatening.	Wet Lung,Edema, Pulmonary,Edemas, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Edemas,Lung, Wet,Lungs, Wet,Wet Lungs
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D000402	Airway Obstruction	Any hindrance to the passage of air into and out of the lungs.	Choking,Airway Obstructions,Obstruction, Airway,Obstructions, Airway
D000768	Anesthesia, General	Procedure in which patients are induced into an unconscious state through use of various medications so that they do not feel pain during surgery.	Anesthesias, General,General Anesthesia,General Anesthesias