주산기 심근병증 환자에서 발생한 폐부종

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a myocardial disease associated with pregnancy and leading to heart failure. A twenty-eight years old primipara was scheduled for a cesarean section due to a twin pregnancy. She had no previous cardiac or other systemic illness. But periodic episode of sudden hypertension, tachycardia, hypoxemia(PaO₂/FiO₂=58) and pulmonary edema were developed in the perioperative period. After being transferred to the intensive care unit, mechanical ventilation with positive end expiratory pressure was applied for six days and pulmonary infiltration subsided. However, two days after extubation, acute pulmonary edema redeveloped in both lung fields in spite of fluid restriction. In echocardiogram demonstrated global hypokinesia of the left ventricle with an ejection fraction of 31%. Dobutamine infusion was started and one day after infusion the pulmonary edema subsided. In conclusion echocardiogram would be helpful for diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy and adequate cardiac support with assisted ventilation will improve prognosis. (Korean J Anesthesiol 1996; 30: 615-619)