title: [Neurogenic pulmonary edema: a prospective study based on observation].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study, we evaluated the cause and the clinical course of neurogenic pulmonary edema which has developed abruptly in some of the patients in the neurosurgical intensive care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 223 patients in the neurosurgical ICU (116 males; 107 females; mean age 44.4+/-19.5). Five of these had worsening in neurological evaluation and oxygenation and were diagnosed as having a neurogenic pulmonary edema. Patients with pneumonia were excluded from the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified acute hydrocephaly in three patients and re-bleeding of an aneurysm in one as the cause of neurogenic pulmonary edema. No cause could be identified in the remaining patient. Although four patients could be discharged from the ICU, one died due to multiorgan failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physicians should be careful about neurogenic pulmonary edema, a life-threatening clinical condition, that develops within hours of a neurologic event and usually resolves with neurologic recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey. iozkana@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ozkan I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Akinci
authors.forename: Aylin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eker
authors.forename: Tülin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erdem
authors.forename: Ayşe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Altay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sencer
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Esen
authors.forename: Nahit
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cakar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D014421:Turkey