ABSTRACT
We present a 62-year old male who underwent right single-lung transplantation. An autologous pericardial rim was constructed at implantation, as there was insufficient donor atrial cuff. The patient was discharged home but deteriorated over 12 months resulting in oxygen dependency. Computed tomography scan showed stenosis of the right inferior pulmonary vein. The patient underwent pulmonary vein angioplasty under general anaesthesia in September 2007, which was successful and resulted in significant improvement in clinical status. However, his symptoms recurred 2 months later and a second attempt at angioplasty failed. He died 6 weeks later.
Subject(s)
Angioplasty, Balloon , Lung Transplantation/adverse effects , Pulmonary Veins , Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease/therapy , Angioplasty, Balloon/instrumentation , Constriction, Pathologic , Fatal Outcome , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Phlebography/methods , Pulmonary Veins/diagnostic imaging , Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease/diagnostic imaging , Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease/etiology , Recurrence , Stents , Time Factors , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Treatment FailureABSTRACT
Optimal thromboprophylaxis following bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement (AVR) remains controversial. The main objective, which is the effective prevention of central nervous or peripheral embolic events, especially in the early postoperative period, will have to be weighed against the haemorrhagic risk that is associated with the utilization of different antithrombotic regimes. Most governing bodies in cardiovascular medicine have issued recommendations on thromboprophylaxis after the surgical implantation of aortic bioprostheses. However, the level of evidence to support these recommendations remains low, largely due to the inherent limitations of conducting appropriately randomized and adequately powered clinical research in this area. It is apparent from the recent surveys and large registries that there is a great variability in antithrombotic practice at an institutional or individual-clinician level reflecting this controversy and the lack of robust evidence. While organizational, financial or conceptual limitations could hinder the conduct and availability of conclusive research on optimal thromboprophylaxis after aortic bioprosthesis, it is imperative that all evidence is presented in a systematic way in order to assist the decision-making for the modern clinician. In this review, we provide an outline of the current recommendations for thromboprophylaxis, followed by a comprehensive and analytical presentation of all comparative studies examining anticoagulation vs. antiplatelet therapy after bioprosthetic AVR.
