Wet lungs, broken hearts and difficult therapies after subarachnoid hemorrhage

Pulmonary edema (PE) can occur after subarachnoid hemorrhage and can jeopardize arterial oxygenation, which is essential for a suffering brain. In some cases PE is evident in the emergency room, being the direct consequence of intracranial bleeding, which causes an immediate and overwhelming catecholamine discharge. In the following days, PE can occur because of cardiac failure, often related to initial cardiac damage, concurrent therapies with fluid overload and vasopressors, infections, or pre-existing co-morbidities. The causes of PE need to be identified for appropriate treatment