Pulmonary edema following relief of upper airway obstruction.

In six pediatric patients, pulmonary edema (PE) appeared on chest x-ray film following intubation for upper airway obstruction (UAO). In spite of the x-ray appearance of PE, there was generally no concomitant physiologic or clinical decline. Only one of the patients required positive airway pressure following intubation. We conclude that PE on chest x-ray film following intubation for UAO is not uncommon, and may not be a harbinger of clinical and/or physiologic deterioration.