Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
07:27
Robotic-assisted Left Pneumonectomy For Vanishing Lung Syndrome
Published on: January 23, 2026
Breathlessness after pneumonectomy: consider postpneumonectomy syndrome
Anthony J Bastin1, Jayenthan Karunanantham, Eric Lim
1Unit of Critical Care, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK.
Clinical Lung Cancer
|November 11, 2010
Summary
Postpneumonectomy syndrome, a rare complication causing breathlessness due to mediastinal shift, can be successfully treated. Repositioning the mediastinum with prostheses improved symptoms and imaging in a patient.
Area of Science:
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Pneumonectomy, the surgical removal of a lung, can lead to rare complications.
- Postpneumonectomy syndrome is characterized by mediastinal shift following lung removal.
Observation:
- A 59-year-old woman experienced progressive dyspnea weeks after a right pneumonectomy.
- Imaging revealed significant mediastinal shift, compressing the left main bronchus and pulmonary vein.
Findings:
- The patient's mediastinum was successfully repositioned using saline-filled prostheses in the postpneumonectomy space.
- This intervention led to symptomatic relief and radiologic improvement.
Implications:
- Clinicians must recognize postpneumonectomy syndrome as a treatable complication.
- Prompt diagnosis and intervention can significantly improve patient outcomes after pneumonectomy.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Pneumothorax-II
Pneumothorax is a medical condition defined by the buildup of air in the pleural space between the lungs and the chest wall. This accumulation of air can lead to partial or complete lung collapse, resulting in a range of clinical manifestations. Understanding the clinical presentation and effective management strategies is crucial for healthcare professionals in providing timely and appropriate care to individuals with pneumothorax.
Clinical Manifestations:
Clinical Manifestations:
01:29Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of pneumonia involves the following steps:
01:08Pneumothorax II: Pathophysiology
Pneumothorax means the presence of air in the pleural space — the thin potential gap between the visceral and parietal pleura. This condition disrupts the normal pressure balance that keeps the lungs inflated, leading to partial or complete collapse of the affected lung.Normal physiologyUnder normal conditions, the pleural space maintains a slightly negative intrapleural pressure, which keeps the lungs expanded against the chest wall. This negative pressure creates a delicate balance between...
01:10Atelectasis II: Pathophysiology
Atelectasis develops when alveoli lose their air and collapse inward. Because lung tissue is naturally elastic, these air sacs shrink rather than remaining open. Collapsed alveoli are no longer ventilated, reducing their role in gas exchange. Blood flow may continue in these regions, creating a ventilation–perfusion mismatch. Clinical findings include decreased breath sounds, dullness to percussion, reduced chest expansion, and decreased tactile fremitus as sound transmission through collapsed...
01:26Pneumothorax-I
A pneumothorax is a condition where air builds up in the space between the lung and the chest wall, causing the lung to collapse. This condition arises when air enters the space between the parietal and visceral pleura, disrupting the negative pressure essential for lung inflation. This can lead to a partial or complete collapse of the lung.
Pneumothorax can be even further classified as spontaneous, traumatic, and tension pneumothorax.
Pneumothorax can be even further classified as spontaneous, traumatic, and tension pneumothorax.
01:28Cardiomyopathy VII: Pre and Post Operative Nursing Management
Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy may undergo a septal myectomy (Morrow procedure). This procedure involves excising a portion of the hypertrophied septum below the aortic valve using a heart-lung machine to improve blood flow through the LVOT. Effective preoperative and postoperative nursing management ensures successful patient outcomes, minimizes complications, and...