A change of heart: acute cardiac dextroversion with cardiogenic shock after partial lung resection

Cardiac herniation and torsion are well described after intrapericardial pneumonectomy, but their occurrence after partial lung resection has been rarely discussed. This unusual case of acute right-sided cardiac dextroversion with torsion occurred in a 30-year-old man after radical right lower lobectomy, pericardial resection and a left lower-lobe wedge resection for locally recurrent and metastatic synovial sarcoma. We describe the management of this unusual cause of cardiogenic shock and review the current literature. Cardiac herniation and torsion are an uncommon cause of cardiogenic shock after lung resection and, if diagnosed late, are associated with significant mortality.