Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine

Introduction: Neurogenic pulmonary edema is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition that can present as severe pulmonary edema after significant neurologic insults. This is the first documented instance that shows a plausible causal link between cannabis consumption, psychogenic polydipsia, and the subsequent development of neurogenic pulmonary edema associated with status epilepticus secondary to acute hyponatremia.

Case Report: We report a case of a 34-year-old female who presented to the emergency department altered and postictal after a witnessed new-onset seizure. She developed significant respiratory distress that required intubation. Her sodium was 121 millimoles per liter (mmol/L), from 137 mmol/L 36 hours prior on routine outpatient labs. Further history revealed excessive water ingestion after eating a cannabis edible prior to the seizure.

Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of recognizing neurogenic pulmonary edema in connection with psychogenic polydipsia, severe hyponatremia, and status epilepticus subsequent to cannabis consumption.