[Pulmonary edema after cesarean section in a parturient with long term use of ritodrine].

A 31-year-old multigravida with a gestation of 31 weeks was admitted in premature labor with placenta previa. The premature labor had been inhibited for two and half months with a tocolytic agent (ritodrine). However, at 32-week gestation an infection was found, the labor broke through the therapy and cesarean section was carried out under spinal anesthesia. Acute pulmonary edema developed post-operatively. An endotracheal intubation was performed followed by respiratory management for four days. Ritodrine is the beta-minetic used most extensively in the therapy of premature labor. However, with overdosage, maternal cardiac and pulmonary complications may occur. In this case, it is possible to have been caused by the long term use of ritodrine. Additionally, the excessive fluid administration, hypoprotenemia, decreased colloid osmotic pressure and infection also might have been the contributing factors for the disorder.