Re-expansion pulmonary edema after pleural drainage of pneumothorax

Abstract

A 28 year old man presented with left thoracic pain and dyspnea for the four previous days. Chest X-ray evidenced a left pneumothorax. Forty minutes after insertion of a pleural drainage, the patient complained of dyspnea and productive cough. A new chest X-ray showed pulmonary infiltrates in the left lung. A computed tomographic scan was consistent with re-expansion pulmonary edema.
The patient spent a postoperative course in the intensive care unit with suportive therapy. The pleural drain was withdrawn on the sixth day, and was discharged home.