Four cases of reexpansion pulmonary edema following aspiration for spontaneous pneumothorax

Abstract

The pulmonary edema that occurs after re-expansion of a collapsed lung is known as re-expansion pulmonary edema (REPE). Its occurence has been thought to be rare before. But nowadays clinicians must be aware of this possible complicasion when appling the chest tube because of the increased incidence of spontaneous pneumothorax recently. According to some previous reports and our experience, its feature is characterized as follows;(1) It develops in a collapsed lung of long duration (more than 3 days). (2) It often develops in several hours after rapid and complete re-expansion, but occasionally develops after partial re-expansion. (3) Though it has been regarded to occur after continuous suction, it sometimes occurs inspite of using the device with flutter valve. (4) Its severity varies from death cases to almost asymptomatic ones. This suggests that the REPE occurs more frequently by close observation than previously believed. © 1992, Japanese Society of National Medical Services. All rights reserved.