[Uncommon cause of respiratory distress in the post-anaesthesia care unit].
We report a case of respiratory distress in the post anesthesia care unit following general anaesthesia for a dilatation and curettage related to miscarriage in a 32-year-old woman. The preoperative physical examination showed no abnormalities except for the presence of dry cough during the preceding two or three days. A few minutes after her arrival in the PACU, the patient developed hyperthermia till 40.6 degrees C, cough, polypnea and oxygen desaturation (SpO(2): 82% on FiO(2): 40%). A thoraco-abdominal angioscanner showed pulmonary basal condensations and a thrombosis of the right ovarian vein. The patient had to be transferred to the intensive care unit where she remained intubated and ventilated during 13 days because of a Haemophilus influenzae pneumonia.
Lalot
M
M
Service d'anesthésiologie, cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Bruxelles, Belgique.
Veyckemans
F
F
Ketelslegers
E
E
Roelants
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*