[Acute pulmonary edema due to airway obstruction during postanesthetic recovery].

We report a postanesthetic complication that has not been described in the literature. A 22-year-old man (ASA 1) developed acute pulmonary edema on awakening from balanced anesthesia for scheduled sagittal mandibular ramus osteotomy and implantation of a paranasal graft. We discuss the role of airway obstruction, which can generate high intrathoracic negative pressures and lead to acute pulmonary edema. We also review the differential diagnosis of possible causes of acute pulmonary edema during the postanesthetic recovery. The postoperative course in this case was good.