Whole Lung Torsion after a Thoracoabdominal Esophagogastrectomy

Abstract

ALTHOUGH torsion of a lobe is not uncommon during lung surgery, torsion of the whole lung during a nonpulmonary procedure is rare. Torsion of the lung is defined as the parenchymal rotation of the whole lung on its bronchovascular pedicle.' Rotation occurs with equal frequency in the left and right lungs. 2 Predisposing factors include transection of the inferior pulmonary ligament, pleural space adhesions, pneumothorax, and pleural effusion. 2 Pulmonary torsion is most often a consequence of trauma or a complication of thoracotomy. Oddi et al. 3 and Chan et al. 4 reported cases of torsion after a transthoracic esophageal surgery. We report a third such case of intraoperative torsion of the left lung during an esophagogastrectomy.