A 19-Year-Old Man with Dyspnea and Stridor after Surgery

The patient’s physical examination revealed stridor with diffuse polyphonic crackles on auscultation, normal blood pressure, a rapid and steady heart rate (148 bpm), and low oxyhemoglobin saturation at 90% on the pulse oximeter despite 2 liters per minute of additional oxygen and a 37.5 ° C temperature. Chest X-ray showed, besides a significant known sinistro-convex scoliosis, partial atelectasis of the left lung ( fig. 1 ). Blood analysis showed only a minimal inflammatory pattern (CRP level 1.2 mg/dl and hyperleucocytosis 15,800/ l, neutrophilic), and arterial blood gases disclosed hypoxemia without hypercapnia despite supplemental oxygen (pH 7.44, pCO 2 43 mm Hg, pO 2 50 mm Hg, and oxyhemoglobin 85.1%). What is your diagnosis? Case Report