Reexpansion pulmonary edema is a rare complication of the treatment of lung collapse secondary to pneumothorax, pleural effusion, or atelectasis but occasionally life threatening. Genereally, reexpansion pulmonary edema is believed to occur only
when a
chronically collapsed lung is rapidly reexpanded by evacuation of large amounts of air or fluid. This complicatio is heralded by tachypnea, unilateral rales, and profuse expectoration of frothy secretion within several hours of reexpansion.
Increased
duration of pneumothorax and the use of suction are important factors in the generation of reexpansion pulmonary edema. We had experienced 3 cases of reexpansion pulmonary edema. In the two cases the pneumothorax had been present for several
days.
And,
after insertion of a chest tube, pulmonary edema developed unilaterally but improved with supplemental oxygen. In the third case, massive pleural effusion was present, and, after insertion of a chest tube, pulmonary edema developed unilaterally,
followed by cardiac arrest. He died of pulmonary edema inspite of resuscitation
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