Frequency and management of pneumothoraces in heart-lung transplant recipients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency and describe the clinical relevance of simultaneous bilateral pneumothoraces in heart-lung transplant recipients.


METHODS
The chest radiographs in 72 consecutive heart-lung transplant recipients were retrospectively reviewed. The study group consisted of 15 patients with a pneumothorax that occurred after removal of surgically placed drainage tubes and subsequent complete expansion of both lungs.


RESULTS
Simultaneous bilateral pneumothoraces occurred in six patients (40%); 10 episodes of unilateral pneumothorax occurred in nine patients (60%). Causes of pneumothoraces included transthoracic fine-needle biopsy (n = 5), bronchoscopic biopsy (n = 3), placement of a central venous catheter (n = 3), and thoracentesis (n = 3); no cause was found in two cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians who perform transthoracic interventions in this patient population should be aware of the likelihood of persistent pleural communications and the possibility of potentially life-threatening bilateral pneumothoraces.
Paranjpe
D V
DV
Department of Radiology, Stanford University Medical Center, Calif.
Wittich
G R
GR
Hamid
L W
LW
Bergin
C J
CJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D015505:Chest Tubes / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D016041:Heart-Lung Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies