Re-expansion pulmonary oedema: revisited

A case of re-expansion pulmonary oedema (RPO) following chest tube insertion for left spontaneous pneumothorax is reported. There were no severe symptoms and routine chest radiograph done four hours after tube thoracostomy showed features of pulmonary oedema in the re-expanded left lung. RPO is an uncommon complication of rapid pleural drainage of air or fluid with potentially serious cardiopulmonary manifestations but appears to run a benign course if there is no prior systemic hypoxaemia and if pneumothorax is drained without suction. Chest radiograph should be done routinely within four hours after chest tube insertion for early detection of RPO.