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Respiratory medicine
Re-expansion pulmonary oedema: two case reports and review of the current literature
  1. How Foong Kwan,
  2. Boon Hau Ng,
  3. Nik Nuratiqah Nik Abeed and
  4. Andrea Yu-Lin Ban
  1. Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Boon Hau Ng; ngboonhau{at}hotmail.com

Abstract

Re-expansion pulmonary oedema (RPE) is an uncommon complication that occurs when a collapsed lung suddenly re-expands, resulting in an osmotic shift of fluid from the blood vessels into the air spaces within the lungs. This condition can develop following thoracocentesis or intercostal chest drainage. We report two cases of RPE that developed after varying volumes of pleural drainage and at different times. Both patients responded well to non-invasive ventilation and hydrocortisone, making a full recovery. Early detection is crucial as RPE is associated with higher mortality rates, but a positive prognosis is attainable with prompt identification and intervention.

  • Mechanical ventilation
  • Pneumonia (respiratory medicine)
  • Pleural infection

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2023-259166

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors The following authors were responsible for drafting of the text, sourcing and editing of clinical images, investigation results, drawing original diagrams and algorithms, and critical revision for important intellectual content: HFK, BHN, AY-LB, NNNA. The following authors gave final approval of the manuscript: BHN.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.