This document summarizes reexpansion pulmonary edema (RPE), which occurs when a lung that has been collapsed for more than several days is rapidly reexpanded. It discusses the history, clinical features, morphophysiological features, and pathogenesis of RPE. The key points are:
1) RPE is a type of permeability pulmonary edema caused by injury to pulmonary microvessels from the histological abnormalities that develop during chronic lung collapse as well as the mechanical stress of reexpansion.
2) RPE typically occurs within 1 hour of reexpansion when the lung has been collapsed for 3 or more days and 2,000mL or more of fluid is evacuated.
3) Treatment aims to reduce mechanical stress during re
This document summarizes reexpansion pulmonary edema (RPE), which occurs when a lung that has been collapsed for more than several days is rapidly reexpanded. It discusses the history, clinical features, morphophysiological features, pathogenesis, and treatment of RPE. RPE is a type of permeability pulmonary edema caused by injury to the pulmonary microvessels from both the histological abnormalities developed during chronic collapse and the mechanical stress of reexpansion. While reducing mechanical stress during reexpansion can help manage symptoms, further research is needed to fully understand and treat the underlying cause of microvascular changes from chronic collapse.