Morphine-induced acute lung injury

A 38-year-old woman who had familial adenomatous polyposis was admitted to the intensive care unit with an episode of severe sepsis 5 days after undergoing a pancreas-preserving duodenectomy. Laparotomy with removal of an intra-abdominal abscess, followed by closed postoperative continuous lavage for 10 days, was performed. During two courses of planned tracheal extubation, the patient developed an acute lung injury, making a reintubation necessary. In both events, the patient received small doses of continuous morphine before the extubation. Morphine may induce the development of an acute lung injury in patients, whereas the exact pathophysiologic and pharmacologic mechanisms remain unclear.