LATE PULMONARY VENOUS COMPLICATIONS AFTER LUNG TRANSPLANTATION

Although abnormalities of the pulmonary venous anastomosis in the earl y postoperative period after lung transplantation have been reported f rom several centers, late complications related to the pulmonary venou s anastomosis have not been described. In the present study, we descri be the clinical and transesophageal echocardiographic findings of pulm onary vein anastomotic complications in two patients at 1.9 and 2.3 ye ars after lung transplantation. Both pulmonary venous abnormalities, s tenosis in the first instance and thrombosis in the second instance, i mpaired venous outflow on the affected side causing unilateral edema a nd pleural effusion. Pulmonary venous abnormalities late after lung tr ansplantation can mimic allograft rejection, opportunistic infection, or heart failure and are best diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiog raphy.