Massive contralateral pneumonia following thoracotomy for lung resection.
Separation of the lungs with a double-lumen endobronchial tube facilitates the surgical approach and protects the bronchial system from contamination by pus or blood from the operated lung. We report a case of a 49-year-old man who suffered a gram-negative pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilatory support and prolonged hospitalization after pulmonary resection. Contamination of the ventilated-dependent lung was documented intraoperatively. Current information on postoperative infectious complications and preventive measures are discussed.
Schweizer
A
A
Division of Anaesthesiology and Unit of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland.
de Perrot
M
M
Hohn
L
L
Spiliopoulos
A
A
Licker
M
M
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000601:surgery; D001769:Blood; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D004754:Enterobacter; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology*; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D013396:Suction; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*