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CME Credit Offered
CME Credit Offered
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Abstract Award
Recording available 2/16-5/2
Recording available 2/16-5/2
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AIUM Credit
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Foundation Awardee
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Abstract Award
Abstract Award
Foundation Awardee
Foundation Awardee

Poster Session 3

Category: Clinical Obstetrics

Poster Session 3

(751) Pulmonary Edema During Pregnancy: Experience from Upward of 70,000 Births

Thursday, February 12, 2026
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM  
Objective:
Pulmonary edema is a rare yet well-known serious complication in pregnancy. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features, and associated conditions among individuals with pulmonary edema during pregnancy.  

Study Design:
At a single tertiary care center, we identified deliveries with pulmonary edema between March 2014 and 2024 using ICD codes. Retrospective chart review was performed. Individuals were stratified by timing of diagnosis: before delivery (antepartum or intrapartum) versus after delivery (postpartum). Statistical comparisons were performed using Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests as appropriate.  

Results:
During the study period, there were 70,465 deliveries, and ICD codes indicated 242 (0.3%) had p</span>ulmonary edema. After chart review, pulmonary edema was confirmed in 125 (0.2%), of which 51 (40.8%) were before delivery and 74 (59.2%) after. Majority were nulliparous (52.8%) and had BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² (75.2%). Preeclampsia (76.0%), tocolytic use (61.6%), and infection (24%) were the three most common associated factors. Individuals diagnosed after delivery were significantly more likely to be at term (≥ 37 weeks: 67.6% vs 19.6%, p</span> < 0.001), whereas those diagnosed before delivery were more likely to be preterm, particularly in the 28.0–36.6 weeks range (p < 0.001). Diabetes was more common in the antepartum group (25.5% vs 8.1%, p</span> = 0.02), and preeclampsia was more prevalent before delivery (86.3% vs 69%, p</span> = 0.04). The median day of postpartum diagnosis was 3.5 ± 3.6 days. ICU admission occurred in 12.8% of cases and did not differ significantly between the groups (p = 1.0).  While there was one perimortem cesarean, there was no maternal death in the cohort. 

Conclusion:
Pulmonary edema remains an uncommon but clinically significant peripartum complication. Antepartum presentations were more often associated with pre-eclampsia and prematurity, while postpartum cases tended to occur at term. Recognition of these patterns can inform antenatal counseling, and guide differential diagnosis in acute respiratory compromise with focus on risk reduction regarding ICU admission.