Respiratory Medicine CME
Volume 2, Issue 4 , Pages 170-172, 2009

Negative pressure pulmonary hemorrhage

Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA

Received 8 December 2008; accepted 12 January 2009.

Abstract 

Negative pressure pulmonary edema is a well-described complication of acute upper airway obstruction. It occurs as a result of a markedly negative intrathoracic pressure generated by forced inspiration against a closed glottis, leading to extravasation of fluid into the alveolar spaces. Capillary blood-gas barrier stress failure may ensue resulting in alveolar hemorrhage. We report a case of negative pressure pulmonary hemorrhage secondary to partial strangulation. The patient's symptoms rapidly abated within 48h with supportive therapy.

Keywords: Pulmonary edema, Capillary permeability, Hemoptysis, Airway obstruction

 

PII: S1755-0017(09)00011-6

doi:10.1016/j.rmedc.2009.01.018

Respiratory Medicine CME
Volume 2, Issue 4 , Pages 170-172, 2009