Pulmonary oedema following sedation


  • 12 year old YST presented with collapse episode, thought to be neurological with neck pain
  • Had a G 2/6 left apical systolic murmur, normal respiration
  • Was sedated for xrays and subsequently had fluid/froth from nose and was cyanotic
  • Xrays show alveolar pattern
  • I have only seen the dog once when he was clinically normal for heart scan which showed a mild mitral regurg and no LAE
  • The dog was sedated again a month later and similar symptoms occured
    • 12 year old YST presented with collapse episode, thought to be neurological with neck pain
    • Had a G 2/6 left apical systolic murmur, normal respiration
    • Was sedated for xrays and subsequently had fluid/froth from nose and was cyanotic
    • Xrays show alveolar pattern
    • I have only seen the dog once when he was clinically normal for heart scan which showed a mild mitral regurg and no LAE
    • The dog was sedated again a month later and similar symptoms occured
    • He had furosemide on that day only on both episodes and returned to normal
    • Any opinions on this case? Could this be a non cardiogenic pulmonary oedema?


5 responses to “Pulmonary oedema following sedation”

  1. Yes absolutely, based on the

    Yes absolutely, based on the rad findings this could well be a non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema – especially when cardiogenic is ruled out. Most likely causes in this case would be neurogenic, reexpansion edema (in/after episodes of upper airway collapse – note: the dog has a T collapse) and ARDS.

  2. Thanks, i suspected the

    Thanks, i suspected the trachea as cause of upper obstruction too. It is worrying if he needs a sedation/GA in future. I was not present for the sedations but maybe a GA with intubation would be safer?

  3. Were the same drugs used both

    Were the same drugs used both times? as could be an adverse reaction the drugs used.

  4. Yes I think he would have had

    Yes I think he would have had medetomodine and butorphanol im on both occasions but he also had this sedation on another occasion without problem.

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