Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2010; 58(3): 179-181
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1240552
Short Communications

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Fulminant Unilateral Pulmonary Edema on the Wrong Side

R. Schramm1 , F. Langer1 , H.-J. Schaefers1
  • 1Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Saarland, Homburg/Saar, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

received June 28, 2009

Publication Date:
07 April 2010 (online)

Abstract

A 55-year-old patient had undergone replacement of the proximal descending aorta at the age of 17 for aortic coarctation. The patient required surgical intervention at the age of 55 for development of a false aneurysm at the distal anastomosis. Surgery was complicated by bleeding from the ruptured false aneurysm into the left upper lung lobe, which had to be resected. Recovery from surgery was uneventful. The patient could be extubated and his cardiopulmonary function was stable. On the 3rd postoperative day, acute decompensation occurred and the patient had to be reintubated for severe hypoxia. Chest X‐ray showed massive opacification of the right lung indicating fulminant pulmonary edema. Interestingly, no marked changes of the remaining left lung were observed. The patient was treated with antibiotics intravenously for suspected pneumonia. In addition, diuretics and catecholamines were administered for markedly elevated cardiac preload and acute loss of peripheral vascular resistance. Within only 12 hours, the patient recovered dramatically. Follow-up chest X‐ray showed no remaining opacification of the right lung. The patient was extubated and cardiopulmonary function has remained stable. The subsequent postoperative course was uneventful and the patient could be discharged from hospital 4 days later.

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Dr. Rene Schramm, MD, PhD

Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
University of Saarland

Kirrbergerstrasse 1

66421 Homburg/Saar

Germany

Phone: + 49 6 84 11 63 20 00

Fax: + 49 6 84 11 63 20 05

Email: reneschramm@live.de