PostObstructive Pulmonary Edema

Patients with postobstructive pulmonary edema (or P.O.P.E.) develop sudden, unexpected and potentially life-threatening pulmonary edema after relief of airway obstruction.  It can be mild or severe. My first experience with it was in 1983. The Case In 1983, we didn’t have pulse oximetry, end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring or even automated Read More …

Laryngospasm is a Life-Threatening Emergency

One of the more frightening events in anesthesia is laryngospasm: the protective, reflex, spasmodic closure of the vocal cords that occurs when the vocal cords are stimulated. This article discusses the mechanism of laryngospasm, and how to treat it. Read More …