Postobstructive pulmonary oedema--a case series and review

Crisis management during anaesthesia: laryngospasm

BACKGROUND

Laryngospasm is usually easily detected and managed, but may present atypically and/or be precipitated by factors which are not immediately recognised. If poorly managed, it has the potential to cause morbidity and mortality such as severe hypoxaemia, pulmonary aspiration, and post-obstructive pulmonary oedema.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the role of a previously described core algorithm "COVER ABCD-A SWIFT CHECK", supplemented by a specific sub-algorithm for laryngospasm, in the management of laryngospasm occurring in association with anaesthesia.

METHODS

The potential performance of this structured approach for the relevant incidents amongst the first 4000 reported to the Australian Incident Monitoring Study (AIMS) was compared with the actual management as reported by the anaesthetists involved.

RESULTS

There were 189 reports of laryngospasm among the first 4000 incidents reported to AIMS. These were extracted and analysed. In 77% of cases laryngospasm was clinically obvious, but 14% presented as airway obstruction, 5% as regurgitation or vomiting, and 4% as desaturation. Most were precipitated by direct airway stimulation (airway manipulation, regurgitation, vomiting, or blood or secretions in the pharynx), but patient movement, surgical stimulus, irritant volatile agents, and failure to deliver the anaesthetic were also precipitating factors. Desaturation occurred in over 60% of cases, bradycardia in 6% (23% in patients aged <1 year), pulmonary oedema in 4%, and pulmonary aspiration in 3%. It was considered that, correctly applied, the combined core algorithm and sub-algorithm recommended for the diagnosis and management of laryngospasm would have led to earlier recognition of the problem and/or better management in 16% of cases.

CONCLUSION

Laryngospasm may present atypically and, if not promptly managed effectively, may lead to morbidity and mortality. Although usually promptly recognised and appropriately managed, the use of a structured approach is recommended. If such an approach had been used in the 189 reported incidents, earlier recognition and/or better management may have occurred in 16% of cases.

Negative-pressure pulmonary edema after routine septorhinoplasty: discussion of pathophysiology, treatment, and prevention

OBJECTIVE

To provide rhinologic surgeons with an understanding of acute negative-pressure pulmonary edema (NPPE) and its treatment.

DESIGN

Case report and literature review of all published adult cases of NPPE. Patient factors, anesthetic variables, and outcomes are assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 146 cases in 45 case reports and series were compiled. There was approximately a 2:1 male-female patient ratio. The average age of the patients was 33 years. Fifty percent of patients had surgery on the upper aerodigestive tract, and 8% had intranasal surgery. No patients received laryngotracheal anesthesia, and 5 of the 146 received intravenous lidocaine prior to extubation. One patient had NPPE following laryngeal mask airway treatment, and 2 patients experienced this complication after conversion from monitored anesthesia care to general endotracheal anesthesia; 33.5% of patients were treated with continuous positive airway pressure alone, while 66.5% required intubation and mechanical ventilation. The average time to resolution was 11.75 hours. Three patients died.

CONCLUSIONS

It is known that surgical procedures involving the upper aerodigestive tract have a higher risk of NPPE than other procedures. Rapid diagnosis and treatment is necessary to achieve early resolution and avoid significant patient morbidity. A thorough understanding is integral to the practice of nasal and paranasal sinus surgery, especially with the rising use of outpatient and office-based surgical suites. Therefore, we present a review of pathophysiologic mechanisms, possible risk factors, treatment options, and potential steps that can be taken to minimize this potentially devastating complication of general anesthesia.

Negative-pressure pulmonary edema: a rare complication of upper airway obstruction in children

Negative-pressure pulmonary edema is a rare but life-threatening complication of upper airway obstruction. Because negative-pressure pulmonary edema may occur in a large spectrum of pathologies associated with upper airway obstruction, awareness of this condition is crucial during daily clinical practice. We report a case of negative-pressure pulmonary edema during anesthetic recovery to highlight this condition.

CASE

A 2-year-old boy was scheduled for orchidopexy under general anesthesia. Shortly after an uneventful operation, the patient presented airway obstruction. Serious oxygen desaturation and bradycardia ensued, during inefficient attempts at positive-pressure ventilation. After emergency intubation, copious pink secretions emerged from the airway. Pulmonary edema was confirmed by clinical examination, pulse oximetry, and chest radiography. The finding of pulmonary edema was resolved within 24 hours after mechanical ventilation and positive end-expiratory pressure. The child suffered no sequelae. This report highlights the clinical features of negative-pressure pulmonary edema and serves as a reminder to the pediatrician who must be able to recognize and initiate treatment for conditions that are uncommon but life-threatening.

Œdème aigu du poumon postobstructif après extubation trachéale au réveil d'une anesthésie générale

We report two cases of postobstructif pulmonary oedema occurring after extubation at the recovery of general anaesthesia and presenting some similarities. The young age of the patient and the occurrence of upper airway obstruction after extubation, as well as the radiologic nondependent distribution of alveolar pattern are typical. The underlying pathophysiology seems to be the mechanical disruption of the alveolar-capillary membrane.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in Children

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway during sleep. This results in the disruption of normal ventilation and sleep patterns. The symptoms, polysomnographic findings, pathophysiology, and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome are significantly different in children from those seen in adults.

Negative pressure pulmonary edema--a postanesthesia emergency

Negative pressure pulmonary edema (also known as postobstructive pulmonary edema) is one form of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema that can occur following any general anesthetic in which the patient was intubated. This complication can be severe, resulting in death if not diagnosed and treated promptly. This review explains the cause, incidence, symptomatology, and treatment of patients with this form of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. A case study is also included to highlight how a patient may present with this complication in the PACU. This article is meant as a review and resource to nurses caring for postanesthesia patients in the PACU, ICU, or surgical floor because documented cases of negative pressure pulmonary edema have occurred as late as 6 hours postoperatively.

Recovery room incidents: a review of 419 reports from the Anaesthetic Incident Monitoring Study (AIMS)

Four hundred and nineteen incidents that occurred in the recovery room were extracted from the Anaesthetic Incident Monitoring Study database, representing 5% of the total database of 8372 reports. Incidents were reported mainly in daylight hours, with over 50% occurring in ASA 1-2 patients. The most common presenting problems related to respiratory/airway issues (183; 43%), cardiovascular problems (99; 24%) and drug errors (44; 11%). One hundred and twenty-two events (29%) led to a major physiological disturbance and required management in the High Dependency Unit or Intensive Care Unit. Contributing factors cited included error of judgement (77; 18%), communication failure (57; 14%) and inadequate pre-operative preparation (29; 7%), whilst factors minimising the incident included previous experience (97; 23%), detection by monitoring (72; 17%) and skilled assistance (54; 13%). Staffing and infrastructure of the recovery room needs to be supported, with ongoing education and quality assurance programmes developed to ensure that such events can be reduced in the future.

Pulmonary edema in the neuroradiology suite: a diagnostic dilemma

PURPOSE

To present the case of an initially unexplained complication of sudden pulmonary edema in a patient during stenting of the carotid artery in the interventional neurology suite.

CLINICAL FEATURES

A 46-yr-old woman (ASA III) having an intracavernous carotid artery angioplasty and stenting procedure under neurolept anesthesia developed sudden pulmonary edema on completion of an otherwise uneventful stenting procedure. The patient responded well to initial management of pulmonary edema although the cause of the edema remained unclear. On retrospective examination of data and with the evolution of clinical signs it became apparent that the patient had suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage which eventually resulted in her death.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical signs of intracerebral events may be slow to evolve. The cause of sudden pulmonary edema in patients undergoing an interventional neuroendovascular procedure is likely to be neurogenic in origin despite the initial lack of neurological signs.