Pulmonary artery angioplasty and stenting of anastomotic pulmonary hypertension after single lung transplantation for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

ABSTRACT

To determine the feasibility and safety of percutaneous stent angioplasty of pulmonary arterial anastomotic stenosis in post lung transplant recipient. We describe a case of pulmonary hypertension recurring in a lung transplant recipient secondary to arterial anastomotic stenosis and not recurrence of primary diseases. The condition completely improved after pulmonary artery balloon angioplasty and Stenting.Vascular anastomotic stenosis is a rare but serious complication associated to high mortality after lung transplantation. Pulmonary artery stenosis at anastomotic site should be suspected in patients with unexplained increasing dyspnea on exertion and breathlessness with evidence of pulmonary hypertension diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography in transplant patients. The diagnosis can be confirmed using pulmonary angiography. Surgical repair has known as a main therapeutic option in these patients. However, pulmonary artery interventional procedure including balloon angioplasty and Stenting can considered as an alternative and an effective treatment in pulmonary arterial anastomotic stenosis in post lung transplant patients, to avoid surgery and its associated morbidity and mortality