title: Pleuropulmonary complications of rheumatoid arthritis: a thoracic surgeon's challenge.
abstract: Approximately 1% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis have chronic lung disease develop, which can lead to complications, including pneumothorax and bronchopleural fistula. Given the inflammatory changes found, along with the immunosuppressant regimen used in management, these complications are often recalcitrant to initial surgical maneuvers. Our goal in reviewing these patients is to demonstrate the escalation of therapeutic interventions that may be needed to ensure successful resolution of this challenging disease process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Thoracic and Foregut Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rueth
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Groth
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: D'Cunha
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maddaus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D015505:Chest Tubes; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D018700:Pleurodesis; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D012218:Rheumatoid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D017211:Treatment Failure