Re-expansion pulmonary edema in a boy with spontaneous pneumothorax during an influenza B virus infection

Toru Watanabe

doi:10.4236/ojped.2012.24042

Abstract

Re-expansion Pulmonary Edema (RPE) is an uncommon complication following rapid re-expansion of the lungs, and the most common disorder associated with RPE is spontaneous pneumothorax. The majority of patients with RPE associated with pneumothorax have been adults; only 4 cases have been reported in children. We present a patient who developed RPE after treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax that occurred during an influenza B virus infection. His condition improved only with oxygen supplementation and intravenous corticosteroids. Infection with influenza B virus leads to increased production of lung epithelial oxidants, which might have contributed to the development of RPE in our patient.

Highlights

Re-expansion Pulmonary Edema (RPE) is an uncommon complication that occurs when a collapsed lung is rapidly re-expanded after evacuation of air or fluid from the pleural space [1]
Re-expansion Pulmonary Edema (RPE) is an uncommon complication following rapid re-expansion of the lungs, and the most common disorder associated with RPE is spontaneous pneumothorax
We present a patient who developed RPE after treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax that occurred during an influenza B virus infection

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Re-expansion Pulmonary Edema (RPE) is an uncommon complication that occurs when a collapsed lung is rapidly re-expanded after evacuation of air or fluid from the pleural space [1]. It is possible for RPE to occur in every type of chronically collapsed lung that can be re-expanded, the most common disorder associated with RPE is spontaneous pneumothorax [2]. The majority of patients with RPE associated with pneumothorax have been adults [1]; only 4 cases have been reported in children [3,4,5]. We report a patient who developed RPE after treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax that occurred during an influenza B virus infection

PATIENT REPORT

DISCUSSION