title: Early pulmonary complications of liver transplant.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pulmonary complications are a leading problem after a liver transplant. This study sought to predict postoperative early complications by a chest radiograph performed after a transplant among adult orthotopic liver transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty-five patients (43 women, 92 men; mean age, 40 y; range, 16-66 y) were included and their medical data reviewed retrospectively. A postoperative chest radiograph of each patient was evaluated to check for pulmonary complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Smoking history was noted in 61 patients (45.2%). Postoperative first chest radiograph evaluation showed normal findings in 56 patients (41.5%). Right pleural effusion was found in 25 patients (18.5%), and atelectasis was found in 25 (18.5%). Bilateral pleural effusion was the second most-frequent finding on postoperative radiograph (14.8%). Effusion accompanied by atelectasis was found in 3 patients (2.2%). Other postoperative chest radiograph findings were consolidation (n=2, 1.5%), left pleural effusion (n=2, 1.5%), and bronchiectasis (n=2, 1.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We investigated the reflection of the first chest radiograph after liver transplant on postoperative early complications. Postoperative first chest radiograph can be an inexpensive and accessible diagnostic tool for predicting postoperative problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa Ilgaz
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Doğrul
authors.forename: Sule
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akçay
authors.forename: Şerife
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Savaş Bozbaş
authors.forename: Balam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Er Dedekargınoğlu
authors.forename: Füsun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Öner Eyüboğlu
authors.forename: Gökhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moray
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haberal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult