Flash Pulmonary Edema Complicating Viral Pneumonia in a Patient with Preserved Cardiac Function

Abstract

Background: Flash pulmonary edema (FPE) is a syndrome of rapid-onset alveolar flooding leading to acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. It classically arises from acute cardiac triggers such as myocardial infarction, hypertensive emergencies, or abrupt volume overload . Rarely, severe infections (e.g. pneumonia) can precipitate FPE despite normal cardiac function by causing inflammatory injury to the alveolar-capillary barrier . Elevated blood pressure often accompanies acute pulmonary edema, especially in patients with underlying hypertension , potentially exacerbating fluid transudation into the lungs.