Acute localised pulmonary oedema. Re-expansion pulmonary oedema following the surgical repair of a ruptured hemidiaphragm.

Re-expansion pulmonary oedema is a rare complication to follow the treatment of pneumothorax or pleural effusion. A unique case is described here which occurred in a young man immediately after the surgical repair of a ruptured diaphragm. The possible causative mechanisms are discussed.