Post-surgical unilateral left pulmonary edema after mitral valve replacement – A diagnostic challenge

Abstract

Unilateral left pulmonary edema due to inadvertent surgical occlusion of left superior and inferior pulmonary veins is not only an exceedingly rare complication of mitral valve surgeries but also a diagnostic challenge in the postoperative recovery unit. Described here is a case of a 38-year-old male who developed progressively worsening unilateral left pulmonary edema after mitral valve replacement on postoperative day-1. The diagnosis was mostly by the exclusion of multiple possible differentials and was confirmed during reexploration surgery.

Keywords

• mitral stenosis
• mitral valve replacement
• pulmonary vein occlusion
• unilateral left pulmonary edema