Papilledema Secondary to Barotrauma in a Young Adult With Severe Status Asthmaticus With Ventilatory Failure, Pneumothorax, and a Complex Clinical Course

Intubation and mechanical ventilation are common therapeutic interventions in intensive care unit settings. Barotrauma is a known complication of using positive pressures in a tissue defined by extra alveolar air in locations where it is not generally found in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Several clinical manifestations of barotrauma include pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema, pneumoperitoneum, pneumomediastinum or pneumopericardium, air embolization, and hyperinflated left lower lobe. However, papilledema is an unreported and uncommon complication we observed in one of our patients, making it a unique presentation. We present the case of a young male patient intubated for asthma exacerbation requiring mechanical ventilation with subsequent development of papilledema. Our case report highlights the importance of knowing this rare complication of barotrauma as early commencement of lung-protective strategies will help prevent it.