title: Late-onset postpneumonectomy empyema presenting as right-sided heart failure: extrinsic right atrial compression.
abstract: Although it is rare, the right atrium can be encroached on by abnormal mediastinal structures, including aortic aneurysms, carcinomas, hepatic cysts and diaphragmatic paralysis. Extrinsic compression of the right atrium causes significant hemodynamic compromise and can lead to fatal outcomes. We describe the case of a 66-year old man with a past history of pulmonary tuberculosis that had undergone right pneumonectomy 40 years previously. He then presented with signs and symptoms of right-sided heart failure. These new signs and symptoms were recognized to be secondary to extrinsic compression of the right atrium, which was due to late-onset postpneumonectomy empyema, and the signs and symptoms were successfully relieved by performing open drainage of the empyema.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University College of Medicine, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: June
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Namgung
authors.forename: Jae-Jin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.forename: Hyunmin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.forename: Sung Uk
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Joon Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Doh
authors.forename: Sung Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ji-Yoon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ryoo
authors.forename: Gham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: Won Ro
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Lee