Reimplantation of the left lung 17 years after a bronchial rupture

Toker A., Tanju S., Dilege S.

ANNALS OF THORACIC SURGERY, vol.85, no.4, pp.1436-1438, 2008 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Editorial Material
  • Volume: 85 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2008
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2007.09.002
  • Journal Name: ANNALS OF THORACIC SURGERY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1436-1438
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

We describe a 37-year-old female patient who had a major vehicle accident 17 years ago. A chest tube had been inserted through the left side of the chest to treat pneumothorax. She was readmitted to the hospital with dyspnea 17 years later. Her examinations, including fiberoptic bronchoscopy, revealed total atelectasis of the left lung with a blind-ending left main bronchus. Anastomosis of the left distal main bronchus to left main bronchus was performed. She had no complications and was discharged on postoperative day 8. Follow-up demonstrated a perfectly functioning left lung with nuclear and tomographic investigations performed on the first postoperative year.