[Post-pneumonectomy edema].

A 64-year-old man complained of irritable cough of 3 months' duration and 1 episode of hemoptysis and dyspnea related to effort. The radiograph revealed a mass in the upper right lobe. Adenocarcinoma of the lung was diagnosed by mediastinoscopy. After removal of the right lung, the patient was admitted to the recovery unit for 36 hours and transferred out without complications. The clinical course in 48 hours on the ward included increasing dyspnea, tachypnea and greater respiratory effort with hypoxemia in spite of increased FiO2. A radiograph showed pulmonary edema and the patient was readmitted to the recovery unit. We describe this case of postpneumonectomy edema and discuss the possible origins of the clinical picture, differential diagnosis, preventive measures and possible treatments.