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Local anesthetic (medical) thoracoscopy is used with increasing frequency by pulmonologists worldwide for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, notably in comorbid patients who may not be physiologically robust enough for general anesthesia. Understanding the complications that can arise and how to manage them is crucial for any physician performing this procedure. Reexpansion pulmonary edema is a rare but recognized complication of draining pleural effusions and pneumothoraces that has not been described previously in association with physician-led thoracoscopy. This case provides an opportunity for an overview of what is known about this unusual but potentially fatal condition. Data correlating ultrasonographic, radiographic, and clinical progression are also presented to highlight the potential usefulness of ultrasonography in identifying lung parenchymal abnormalities such as extravascular lung water.

Original publication

DOI

10.1378/chest.13-2989

Type

Journal article

Journal

Chest

Publication Date

08/2014

Volume

146

Pages

e34 - e37

Keywords

Anesthesia, Local, Anesthetics, Local, Diagnosis, Differential, Drainage, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Lung, Male, Middle Aged, Pleural Effusion, Pulmonary Edema, Radiography, Thoracic, Recurrence, Thoracoscopy, Ultrasonography