Pulmonary edema induced by upper airway obstruction--report of 3 cases.

Pulmonary edema is a well-recognized complication of upper airway obstruction, and has been reported sporadically both in children and adults since 1977. Although the pathogenesis of pulmonary edema associated with upper airway obstruction is multifactorial, attention is primarily focused on excessive negative intrapleural and transpulmonary pressure produced by forceful inspiration against a closed glottis that results in transudation of fluid from the pulmonary capillary into the interstitial and alveolar spaces. We report 3 cases of pulmonary edema induced by upper airway obstruction after extubation following general anesthesia.