Negative Pressure Pulmonary Edema following General Anesthesia- A Case Report

Negative pressure Pulmonary Edema (NPPE) is a well- recognized but rare complication secondary to upper airway obstruction such as laryngeal spasm during emergence from general anesthesia. We herein report a case of NPPE in a young healthy adult male following minor orthopedic surgery. With prompt diagnosis and treatment he recovered well without significant sequelae. Young healthy males may be at increased risk for laryngospasm-induced pulmonary edema because they have the ability to generate large negative intrathoracic pressures. It has however been described even in neonates. The condition must be promptly recognized to minimize morbidity and mortality.