Postpneumonectomy pulmonary edema.

Postpneumonectomy pulmonary edema has become a worldwide problem. Study of data available from some of these patients implicates excessive perioperative volumes of intravenous fluid. A study done on dogs supports the clinical conclusion. The risk factors for this complication are right pneumonectomy, large perioperative fluid load, and high intraoperative and postoperative urine outputs. Patients undergoing pneumonectomy are at greater risk from intravenous fluid therapy than other types of patients.