Pulmonary Edema and Hemorrhage after Aesthetic Nasal Surgery

Negative pressure pulmonary edema following tracheal extubation is an uncommon and life-threatening complication of patients undergoing endotracheal intubation and general anesthesia for surgical procedures. The common pattern in these cases is the occurrence of an episode of airway obstruction upon emergence from general anesthesia, usually caused by laryngospasm. Patients who are predisposed to airway obstruction may have an increased risk of airway complications upon extubation after general anesthesia. This paper presents the case of a young male with repaired cleft lip and palate submitted to aesthetic nasal surgery under general anesthesia, who exhibited sudden respiratory insufficiency and pulmonary hemorrhage immediately after tracheal extubation. Prevention and early relief of upper airway obstruction may decrease the incidence of pulmonary edema and hemorrhage after surgery.