Hemopericardium after Lung Lobectomy

Pardolesi Alessandro,Solli Piergiorio

doi:10.4172/2161-105x.1000331

Abstract

Cardiac tamponade after lung resection is a very rare but life-threatening complication. The present case illustrates another of this uncommon complication, wherein the exact mechanism of injury remained undefined. Hemorrhagic cardiac tamponade occurred few hours after left lower lung lobectomy and re-thoracotomy surprisingly revealed that a left coronary artery branch rupture was the cause.

Highlights

Cardiac tamponade after lung resection is a very rare but lifethreatening complication
Hemorrhagic cardiac tamponade occurred few hours after left lower lung lobectomy and re-thoracotomy surprisingly revealed that a left coronary artery branch rupture was the cause
Arterial blood gas showed an initial metabolic acidosis, chest X-ray did not reveal any suspicious images, no signs of myocardial ischemia were displayed on electrocardiogram (ECG) and the bedside echocardiogram showed a modest pericardial effusion

Summary

Introduction

Cardiac tamponade after lung resection is a very rare but lifethreatening complication. Hemorrhagic cardiac tamponade occurred few hours after left lower lung lobectomy and re-thoracotomy surprisingly revealed that a left coronary artery branch rupture was the cause. Because of the voluminous lesion, dissection of the lower lobe hilar structures was laborious; otherwise the procedure was uneventful, with an estimated blood loss of 200 mL and a total surgical time of 150 minutes.

Results

Conclusion