[Reexpansion pulmonary edema and pleural bleeding after suction drainage of pneumothorax].

We present a case of 26 years old man with large spontaneous pneumothorax of about 5 days duration. Application of suction drainage was complicated by unilateral reexpansion pulmonary edema (REPE) and hemothorax developed during first 24 hours of treatment. On thoracotomy multifocal superficial pleural bleeding was seen which was probably attributed to the pathomechanisms similar to suggested in reexpansion pulmonary edema. The patient received supplemental oxygen therapy and completely recovered during next few days. The patient presented typical risk factors of REPE including: young age, large and prolonged pneumothorax. In such cases chest tube should be initially left off suction to prevent REPE.