Paratracheal radiolucency as a sign of tracheal disruption after heart-lung transplantation.
Focal mediastinal radiolucency to the immediate left of the distal part of the trachea was evident on a frontal chest radiograph 12 days after heart-lung transplantation in a 31-year-old woman. Bronchoscopy revealed ulcerating necrosis immediately distal to the tracheal anastomosis. We conclude that chest radiography may show focal mediastinal air as the first sign of anastomotic necrosis of a major airway after lung transplantation.
Schulman
L L
LL
Department of Medicine, Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032.
Austin
J H
JH
D000328:Adult; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D001980:Bronchi / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D016041:Heart-Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009336:Necrosis; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014132:Trachea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery