CTICasesDown-Lung Syndrome
Imaging findings
Chest radiograph and CT chest obtained 2 days post left upper lobectomy demonstrate near-complete, unilateral ground-glass opacity, septal thickening, and consolidative opacities in the non-operated right lung. Immediate post-operative films were normal, and the consolidation cleared completely within a few days with supportive care.
Key takeaways
Down-lung syndrome (unilateral pulmonary edema in the dependent lung) is a rare post-operative complication that occurs when a patient is kept in a lateral decubitus position during prolonged surgery. The increased hydrostatic pressure and blood flow to the dependent lung, combined with potentially compromised lymphatic drainage from prior chemotherapy or radiation, leads to transient dependent edema that clears rapidly without infection treatment.
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