title: Tension pneumoperitoneum after heart-lung transplantation.
abstract: Tension pneumoperitoneum is a medical emergency. We report 2 cases in which tension pneumoperitoneum occurred after heart-lung transplantation and was related to positive-pressure ventilation and a transdiaphragmatic passage of omentum used to wrap the airway anastomosis. Management in these patients was targeted toward decompression of intraperitoneal air with percutaneous needle or tube placement without exploratory laparotomy, and tube thoracostomy for the concomitant pneumothorax.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Bierman
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Griffith
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D016041:Heart-Lung Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011027:Pneumoperitoneum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011859:Radiography