Reexpansion pulmonary edema after drainage of pneumothorax.

Reexpansion pulmonary edema is a rare complication of thoracocentesis with mortality rates as high as 20%. It presents with tachycardia, hypotension, and hypoxemia within hours after thoracocentesis. The exact pathophysiology is not known. The risk factors for the same should be carefully assessed and considered before chest tube drainage. The treatment is supportive. A case of ipsilateral reexpansion pulmonary edema after chest tube drainage of spontaneous pneumothorax is described and illustrated. He was managed with noninvasive ventilation, inotropes, and other supportive treatment and recovered completely.