Application of transpulmonary thermodilution monitoring (PiCCO) in patient with neurogenic pulmonary edema and acute obstructive hydrocephalus due to a central neurocytoma: A case report

Abstract

Neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) is an acute life-threatening complication associated with many forms of central nervous system injury. Its pathophysiology is still debated. We report a patient with acute obstructive hydrocephalus due to a central neurocytoma who also had NPE, for which serial transpulmonary thermodilution monitoring (PiCCO) was performed. Insertion of the PiCCO, which provides information about the patient's cardiac output, preload status and amount of lung water, revealed a high pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) and low global end-diastolic volume (GEDV) without cardiac dysfunction, indicating permeability edema, which led to our changing the therapeutic strategy. Using PiCCO monitoring to balance the preload and extent of pulmonary edema enabled achievement of an optimal cardiac preload for organ perfusion, resulting in normalization of pulmonary edema by day 2. PiCCO facilitates understanding of the mechanism of NPE, guiding the management of fluid balance and the choice of vasopressors in patients with life-threatening NPE.