[Postobstructif pulmonary oedema after endotracheal extubation at the recovery of general anaesthesia].

We report two cases of postobstructif pulmonary oedema occurring after extubation at the recovery of general anaesthesia and presenting some similarities. The young age of the patient and the occurrence of upper airway obstruction after extubation, as well as the radiologic nondependent distribution of alveolar pattern are typical. The underlying pathophysiology seems to be the mechanical disruption of the alveolar-capillary membrane.

Short-term associations between air pollution and respiratory drug sales.

Study Objective: This research was implemented to assess the effect of air pollution on anti-asthmatic, bronchodilator, and cough and cold preparation sales in the city of Rouen (France) based on the Upper Normandy Regional Union of Health Insurance Offices database and the Air Quality Monitoring Network database.

Design: An ecological time-series analysis was performed for a period of 2 years (July 1998-June 2000). Generalized additive model yields to relative risks and 95% confidence interval (CI) estimates were also carried out.

Life-threatening pneumothorax of the ventilated lung during thoracoscopic pleurectomy.

Purpose: To report the case of a patient who underwent right thoracoscopic pleurectomy with lung exclusion and developed contralateral (left) pneumothorax with resulting life-threatening alteration of the respiratory and cardiovascular functions.

Clinical Features: A 28-yr-old male was admitted to the intensive care unit for a well tolerated, second episode of spontaneous right pneumothorax and scheduled for right thoracoscopic pleurectomy. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with sufentanil and propofol.