Learning objectives
Review anatomy and normal findings in the main approaches of cardiopulmonary surgery (thoracotomy and median sternotomy).
Detail the main direct acute complications that may arise in relation to the surgical approach accompanying with visual examples.
Background
With advances in modern surgery and surgical techniques,
cardiopulmonary surgery has become a point of reference in a wide range of pathologies.
With the development of thoracoscopic surgery,
the thoracotomy has been relegated to medical emergency procedures or that require a very wide surgical field.
Neoplasms,
pulmonary or cardiac transplants,
valvular prostheses or acute aortic syndrome are only a few of them...
However,
the surgical risk of these types of procedures is very high and not negligible.
It is necessary to know the normal anatomy...
Findings and procedure details
Normal post-surgical thoracic findings:
In partial lung resection,
we can commonly find surgical material (clips or sutures) and volume loss.
Volume loss can be seen by elevation of the hemidiaphragm in the operated hemithorax,
proportional to the degree of lung resection.
The mediastinum can also shift into the side os the surgery.
Compensatory hyperinflation of the remaining ipsilateral lung fill the vacant surgical space and anatomic landmarks can be distorted.
Depending on the type of the procedure small pleural effusion or subtle bibasal consolidation in...
Conclusion
In order to make a proper radiological diagnosis,
it is necessary to know the normal anatomy and recognize the changes related to the surgical procedure performed.
This allows us to be able to distinguish normal postoperative findings from direct complications derived from the surgical intervention.
All of this improves the quality of care received by our patients.