title: Neurogenic pulmonary edema in head injuries: analysis of 5 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the pathophysiology and study the diagnosis and clinical management of neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE).
  
  
  METHODS
  The data of 5 patients who developed NPE after head injury treated in our hospital form December 1995 to May 2003 were collected and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients developed dyspnea and respiratory failure 2-8 hours after neurologic event. Four of the 5 patients presented with pink frothy sputum. Chest radiography showed bilateral diffuse infiltrations in all the 5 patients. After supportive measures such as oxygen support and pharmacologic therapy, 4 patients recovered in 72 hours and one patient died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pathophysiologic mechanisms of NPE is unclear. In acute respiratory failure following head injury, NPE must be given much attention and timely and effective measures should be taken.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250033, China. shiqiang_qin@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Shi-qiang
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Han-bin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qing-lin
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D011379:Prognosis; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed