Negative pressure pulmonary oedema in the medical intensive care unit.
OBJECTIVE
Negative pressure pulmonary oedema (NPPE) occurring in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) is an uncommon, probably under-diagnosed, but life-threatening condition.


METHODS
Retrospective data collection.


METHODS
Medical intensive care unit in a 1,500-bedded tertiary care hospital.


METHODS
Five patients were diagnosed between January 1998 and January 2002.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
Five patients were diagnosed to have NPPE from different aetiologies. These were acute epiglottitis, post-stenting of right bronchus intermedius stenosis, strangulation, compression from a goitre and one patient developed diffuse alveolar haemorrhage after biting the endotracheal tube during recovery from anaesthesia. All patients responded rapidly to supplemental oxygen, positive pressure ventilation and correction of underlying aetiologies. Pulmonary oedema resolved rapidly.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a large spectrum of aetiologies causing NPPE in the medical intensive care unit.
Koh
Mariko Siyue
MS
Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, 169608 Singapore, Singapore. gm3ksy@sgh.com.sg
Hsu
Anne Ann Ling
AA
Eng
Philip
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D004826:Epiglottitis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome