AN INTENSIVE CARE PATIENT HAVING RECURRENT FLASH PULMONARY EDEMA: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Abstract

Flash pulmonary edema is a term characterized by sudden and recurrent episodes of dyspnea at rest resulting from acute pulmonary venous congestion in the presence of normal or well-preserved left ventricle systolic functions. This is usually associated with bilateral renal artery stenosis. It was reported here an intensive care unit patient, 60-year-old man, having normal ejection fraction and bilateral renal artery stenosis at bedside echocardiograpy and ultrasonography, respectively; and presented with recurrent episodes of flash pulmonary edema. He was successfully treated with intensive medical treatment (such as diuretic, dopamine, nitrat) under cardiac and respiratory monitorization in intensive care unit.