Post-Obstructive Pulmonary Edema: A Different Type of Pulmonary Edema

Abstract

Post-obstructive pulmonary edema (POPE) or negative pressure pulmonary edema is a unique clinical entity occurring in the context of airway obstruction. Two distinct subclasses of POPE have been described in literature: type I occurring in the setting of acute airway obstruction and type II occurring after relief of chronic partial airway obstruction. We report the case of a 40-year-old gentleman who developed POPE during rigid bronchoscopy soon after the central airway obstruction was relieved. Patient improved rapidly over the next 24 h with positive pressure ventilation.

Keywords

• bronchoscopy
• positive pressure ventilation
• pulmonary edema