Rarely fatal bilateral re-expansion pulmonary edema after inserting a chest tube for unilateral spontaneous pneumothorax: a case report.
Forensic Sci Med Pathol
; 17(1): 114-119, 2021 Mar.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33170459
We describe a case of a 32-year-old man who died due to bilateral re-expansion pulmonary edema (RPE) following the insertion a chest tube for unilateral spontaneous pneumothorax. Fifteen minutes after inserting the chest tube, the patient with right spontaneous pneumothorax was diagnosed with right re-expansion edema by chest radiograph. Although multiple treatments were administered, the patient died. However, the findings from autopsy showed bilateral RPE existed in the decedent but not unilateral RPE. Autopsy, microscopic examination, and clinical records concluded that the cause of death was acute cardiac and respiratory failure due to bilateral re-expansion pulmonary edema following unilateral spontaneous pneumothorax. Bilateral RPE due to a unilateral pneumothorax is quite rare in clinical and forensic practice. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the pathological changes of RPE have been described by gross and microscopic examinations. This case is reported to provide histopathologic references for diagnosis of RPE and indicate that combining death investigation, pathological findings and clinical courses plays a vital role in diagnosis of RPE in forensic pathology.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Neumotórax
/
Edema Pulmonar
/
Tubos Torácicos
Tipo de estudio:
Etiology_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Forensic Sci Med Pathol
Asunto de la revista:
JURISPRUDENCIA
/
MEDICINA
/
PATOLOGIA
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
China