Annals of Thoracic Surgery Short Reports
Hidden Bleeding: Tracheal Surgery in a Lung Transplant Patient
By Sameer K. Avasarala, Atul C. Mehta and Usman Ahmad.
Abstract
Airway complications remain a major source of morbidity after lung transplantation. We report a 59-year-old bilateral lung transplant recipient who underwent tracheal reconstructionfor post-tracheostomy stenosis and subsequently developed severe hypoxemic respiratory failure due to recurrent tracheobronchial bleeding. Bronchoscopy revealed diffuse bloody secretions without infection, vasculitis, rejection, or anastomotic failure. Impaired venous drainage from multiple airway anastomoses is proposed as the underlying cause of the bleeding. Hemorrhage resolved spontaneously by postoperative day 25. This case underscores the risks of tracheal reconstruction in lung transplant recipients and the need for additional data to guide management.
Keywords
- Tracheal and airway disorders
- Open access
Source
Published in Annals of Thoracic Surgery Short Reports. The abstract is shown as published and remains the work of its authors; read the full article at the source.
Prognia lists this article for reference and education. It is not medical advice. Always read the original and follow current guidelines and local protocols before acting on it.
