Bronchial-atrial fistula after lung transplant resulting in fatal air embolism.
We describe a rare case of fatal air embolism in a patient in whom a left atrial-bronchial fistula developed 1 month after single lung transplant. The cause was a combination of mediastinal infection and bronchial necrosis.
Karmy-Jones
R
R
Division of Thoracic Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
Vallieres
E
E
Culver
B
B
Raghu
G
G
Wood
D E
DE
D000038:Abscess / Q000473:pathology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology; D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000473:pathology*; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000473:pathology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005402:Fistula / Q000473:pathology*; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology*; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000473:pathology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection