Transient ventricular dysfunction after an asphyxiation event: stress or hypoxia?

Objective: This report of a pediatric patient with acute upper airway obstruction causing asphyxiation emphasizes the need to maintain clinical suspicion for acquired myocardial dysfunction, despite the presumed role of noncardiogenic causes for pulmonary edema after an acute upper airway obstruction.

Design: Case report.

Setting: A tertiary pediatric intensive care unit.