Radiographic alterations of postoperative chest after lung surgery

Moon, J H; Lim, Y C; Cho, O K

Abstract

Major radiographic changes almost occur after surgery for pulmonary resection. With careful attention to thetiming and clinical setting of these alterations, their significance can be evaluated and their managementplanned. This paper reviews the expected postoperative changes as well as those indicating a potential complicaiton of surgery of 144 patients who had been operated from May 1972 to Dec. 1980 in the Hanyang University Hospital. The resuls were as follows; 1. Total 144 cases included 36 cases of pneumonectomy, 77 cases of lobectomy and 31 cases of segmentectomy. 2. The most common causes of lung surgery were lung cancer in pneumonectomy, bronchiectasis in lobectomy and pneumothorax due to bulla rupture in segmentectomy. 3. Normal postoperativeradiographic alterations of pneumonectomy showed gradual accumulated fluid in the vacant hemthorax with shiftingof mediastinum and diaphragm to the opeartion side. Total opacification of hemithorax was observed from postoperative 7 days to 3 months. 4. Normal postoperative radiographic changes of lobectomy and segmentectomy showed showed minimal pneumothorax too, but it was soon disappeared with full lung expansion. Mediastinal ordiaphragmeatic shifting to operation side was seen in lobectomy but it was not remarkable in segmentectomy. 5. 41cases out of total 144 cases (28.5%) showed postoperative pulmonary complications. The complication rate of thegroup of lobectomy(32%) and segmentectomy(32%) were much higher than the group pneumonectomy(17%). 6. The complications were atelectasis, pneumonia, dead space, bleeding and BPF in order. The most common complicaitonswere bleeding and empyema in pneumonectomy, atelectasis and dead space in lobectomy, and atelectasis, pneumoniaand BPF in segmentectomy.

Radiographic alterations of postoperative chest after lung surgery

Abstract

MeSH Terms

Cited

Save citations to file

Email citations