Autopsy Findings in a Patient with Post-Obstructive Pulmonary Edema

Post-obstructive pulmonary edema (POPE), a form of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, is a significant entity in anesthesiology and head/neck surgery. This rapidly developing and life-threatening condition occurs following the relief of the obstruction in the upper airways. This condition has two main categories with distinct etiology. We report the case of a 62-year-old Filipino female who developed POPE after the removal of the endotracheal tube following a routine biopsy of her maxillary mass. Immediately after the removal of the endotracheal tube, she presented with episodes of hypotension and desaturation. Chest x-ray post-re-intubation revealed bilateral lung opacities. The autopsy findings of the respiratory and cardiovascular system are presented.