Patent foramen ovale after lobectomy. A contraindication to completion pneumonectomy?

Abstract

Patency of the foramen ovale (FO) is a very rare complication after lobectomy. Completion pneumonectomy after FO reopening has never been described before. In the reported case, a patent FO was diagnosed in a 52-year old man 9 months after a left upper sleeve lobectomy for a squamous cell carcinoma pT2N1. At the same time, bronchoscopy showed an endobronchial recurrence in the left main bronchus. The foramen was closed percutaneously by a 35 mm Amplatzer prosthesis. Dyspnea improved dramatically in the following 4 weeks and no more oxygen therapy was required. After complete restaging, a completion pneumonectomy was performed without any postoperative complication. This case report suggests that pneumonectomy in such delicate patients is feasible.

• Authors: F Leo, N Venissac, O Rabary, F Guillot, S Khelef, J Mouroux
• Journal: The Journal of cardiovascular surgery (J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino)) Vol. 45 Issue 6 Pg. 581-3 (Dec 2004) ISSN: 0021-9509 [Print] Italy
• PMID: 15746640 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (surgery)
• Cardiac Surgical Procedures
• Cardiomyopathies (etiology, surgery)
• Contraindications
• Heart Septum (surgery)
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (surgery)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pneumonectomy (adverse effects)
• Prosthesis Implantation
• Reoperation