Severe re-expansion pulmonary edema after chest tube insertion for the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax: A case report

RATIONALE: Re-expansion pulmonary edema (REPE) is a rare complication after chest tube insertion for the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. However, this complication can be life threatening when it occurs. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize REPE early and treat it appropriately. In the present study, we report a severe REPE case occurring after chest tube insertion in a patient with spontaneous pneumothorax. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 27-year-old male patient visited out hospital with chest pain on the left, which had started a week ago. After diagnosed with pneumothorax and having chest tube insertion, the patient complained of sudden shortness of breath, persistent cough, foamy sputum, and vomiting. DIAGNOSIS: Based on the symptoms and imaging findings, the patient was diagnosed as REPE. INTERVENTIONS: After the condition of the patient deteriorated rapidly, he was transferred to intensive care unit and then mechanical ventilation and conservative treatment were performed after endotracheal intubation. OUTCOMES: After mechanical ventilation and conservative treatment in the intensive care unit, the symptoms and radiological findings improved, and then mechanical ventilation was weaned and the chest tube was removed from the patient. However, due to recurrent pneumothorax after removal of the chest tube, video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) wedge resection was performed. At 6 months post-operative follow up, he was well with normal radiological findings. LESSONS: REPE occurs rarely, but once it does, it causes a serious condition that can be life-threatening. Therefore, patients with the risk factors related to it should receive a closed observation after chest tube insertion. Moreover, if REPE occurs, appropriate treatments should be carried out by recognizing it early.