High altitude pulmonary edema in a patient with previous pneumonectomy.

High altitude pulmonary edema in a patient with previous pneumonectomy.
J Formos Med Assoc. 2007 Apr
Chou YT,
Wang CL,
Kao KC,
Wu YK,
Tsai YH.
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.

High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is a life-threatening illness that can occur in individuals ascending to altitudes exceeding 2400 m. The risk factors are rapid ascent, physical exertion and a previous history of HAPE. This work presents a case study of a 74-year-old man who underwent left side pneumonectomy 40 years ago and subsequently experienced several instances of HAPE. The well-known risk factors for HAPE were excluded in this patient. We suspect that the post-pneumonectomy condition may be a risk factor for HAPE based on this case.

PMID: 17475610 [PubMed - in process]