ABSTRACT
A 57-year old female civilian was suffocated by an intruder. The victim (experienced severe dyspnoea) but violently resisted the assault. Two hours after this event, on admission to a Trauma Centre, she demonstrated left facial swelling with low percutaneous oxygen saturation. Chest X-ray and computed tomography demonstrated pulmonary oedema. This improved dramatically within a short time and she was discharged on the 5th hospital day. Pulmonary oedema induced by suffocation has been reported only rarely. The possible mechan-isms by which pulmonary oedema might form after the relief of airway obstruction are discussed.