Author/Authors :
Maroof, Mohammad King Fahad National Guard Hospital - Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Saudi Arabia , Khan, Rashid M. King Fahad National Guard Hospital - Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Saudi Arabia , Ryley, Bruce G. King Fahad National Guard Hospital - Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Saudi Arabia , Bad, Naveed King Fahad National Guard Hospital - Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Saudi Arabia , Cooper, Timothy King Fahad National Guard Hospital - Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Saudi Arabia
Abstract :
Twelve cases of post-anaesthetic pulmonary oedema (P0) secondary to upper airway obstruction (UAO) are reported. All were adult male patients undergoing uneventful elective surgical procedure under general anaesthesia. Post-anaesthetic laryngospasm was the single most important factor for the upper airway obstruction (UAO) in 5 (41.6%) patients. P0 secondary to partial UAO in drowsy patients was observed in 4 (33.3%) patients. UAO due to foreign body was responsible for P0 in two patients. A combination of negative intrathoracic pressure, hypoxia and associated hyperadrenergic state were the most likely causes of P0 in these patients with UAO. Early recognition, maintenance of patent airway and adequate oxygenation via face mask or endotracheal tube with mechanical ventilation resolved the syndrome within 6-36 horns in all of these patients. Invasive haemodynatnic monitoring or aggressivedrug therapy were not applied in any of the patients. A heightened awareness among anaesthesiologists of the varied causes of post-anaesthetic UAO leading to P0 may help reduce the occurrence and facilitate early management of the potential complications
