Acute pulmonary edema complicating tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.

In summary, we have presented two cases to illustrate the problem of postoperative pulmonary edema following tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Furthermore, we have discussed the difficulty in predicting those patients who will develop this complication. Because of the potential seriousness and unpredictability of acute pulmonary edema following tonsillectomy for chronic obstruction, it is important that medical personnel, including pediatricians caring for patients after tonsillectomy, be able to readily recognize this phenomenon of acute onset of congestive heart failure and treat it rapidly with diuretics, continuous positive airway pressure, and respiratory support as needed.