ArticleCureus2026
Diabetic Ketoacidosis Complicated by Cerebral and Pulmonary Oedema in an Adult.
Article in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening metabolic emergency. While cerebral and pulmonary oedema are recognised complications in paediatric populations, they are exceptionally rare and poorly characterised in adults. This case report describes an adult patient with severe DKA who developed both cerebral and pulmonary oedema during treatment. A previously healthy 36-year-old man presented with a two-week history of polyuria and polydipsia and progressive dyspnoea. He was alert and tachycardic and exhibited Kussmaul respirations. Initial investigations confirmed severe DKA: serum glucose 22.1 mmol/L, bicarbonate <4 mmol/L, and an elevated anion gap. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) confirmed volume depletion. Management followed standard DKA protocol with cautious fluid resuscitation and intravenous insulin. At 11 hours post-presentation, after receiving 4 litres of fluid, the patient developed acute respiratory distress and a decline in Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) to 12. Imaging confirmed non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema and cerebral oedema with leptomeningeal enhancement. He was intubated, required inotropic support, and was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU). Management included continued DKA treatment, dexamethasone for cerebral oedema, empirical antibiotics, and strict fluid regulation. The pulmonary oedema resolved, and a repeat computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain showed resolution of cerebral oedema. The patient was successfully extubated on day 6 and made a complete neurological recovery. This case highlights that cerebral and pulmonary oedema, though rare, can occur in adults with DKA. It underscores the need for vigilant monitoring for these complications even with standard, cautious management. A multifactorial pathophysiology is likely, requiring an integrated critical care approach for successful outcomes. Emergency and critical care practitioners should be aware of these potential life-threatening complications in adult DKA.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.