ABSTRACT
Two cases of negative pressure pulmonary edema are described. In one case, tracheal intubation was not successful and airway obstruction occurred after induction of anesthesia. Spontaneous breathing was restored by reversal of neuromuscular blocking action, but airway obstruction persisted. Urgent tracheostomy was therefore performed. A chest x-ray and clinical features indicated pulmonary edema immediately after tracheostomy. Treatment with mechanical ventilation and positive end-expiratory pressure improved pulmonary edema. In the other case, airway obstruction occurred after extubation. Removal of secretion in the oral cavity and assisted ventilation improved airway obstruction, but pulmonary edema was found by chest x-ray. Forced diuresis using furosemide and oxygen inhalation resulted in the improvement of pulmonary edema. Fortunatetly, in both cases, significant complications associated with pulmonary edema did not occur. Care should be taken of the risk of pulmonary edema when the airway was obstructed after induction of anesthesia or extubation under spontaneous breathing.
