[CASE PRESENTATION]
A 23-year-old, primigravida and with an uneventful antenatal period, presented at a peripheral hospital’s emergency department on the fifth post-partum day. She complained of worsening shortness of breath, coughing, abdominal pain, and difficulty breathing while lying flat. She had normal vaginal delivery with an episiotomy, resulting in a healthy baby girl weighing 3.5 kg, without any complications. The patient had no significant medical history or family history of chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or heart disease.
Upon examination, the patient had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 15 out of 15 and exhibited tachypnea (40 breaths per minute), tachycardia (119 beats per minute), and low blood oxygen saturation levels (69%) while breathing on room air. Her blood pressure was 230/140 mmHg. Bilateral pitting edema was observed, alongside a normal body temperature. Lung auscultation revealed widespread crackling sounds on both sides.