Acute cardiac herniation following pneumonectomy.
Pneumonectomy with partial pericardiectomy may result in herniation of the heart through the pericardial defect, leading to cardiovascular collapse and death. Awareness of this grave potential complication and familarity with its clinical and roentgenographic features should permit prompt diagnosis and facilitate lifesaving repeat thoracotomy.
D000208:Acute Disease; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006547:Hernia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000601:surgery*; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography