title: Herpes simplex viral pneumonia in the postthoracotomy patient.
abstract: Over a 6-month period, 6 of 54 postthoracotomy patients developed pneumonia and respiratory failure. Pneumonia was secondary to herpes simplex virus type 1 in 3 of the 6 patients. Diagnostic efforts including bronchoscopy with bronchial washing, viral cultures, and cytologic examination permitted early diagnosis and successful treatment with acyclovir. A high index of suspicion for herpes simplex pneumonia must be maintained in critically ill patients with undiagnosed pneumonia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery and Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Camazine
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Antkowiak
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Nava
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lipman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takita
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000821:virology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D011859:Radiography; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013908:Thoracotomy
chemical_list: D000212:Acyclovir