Pulmonary oedema following choking: report of two cases

Two children, aged 3 1/2 and 5 1/2 years, are described. Both developed pulmonary oedema (PE) following a short episode of choking on a sweet and an orange, respectively. On admission diagnosis was made by chest X-ray. One child was asymptomatic despite PE while the other showed only mild respiratory distress. Both children recovered spontaneously and chest X-rays showed a return to normal within 24 h. The mechanism of PE production is discussed. It is suggested that oedema formation occurs during the obstruction and that it is due to hypoxia and the severe negative pleural pressure resulting from attempts to inspire against the obstructed airway. both hypoxia and severe negative pleural pressure cause an increase in pulmonary capillary pressure and transduration of fluid across the capillary membrane.