Torsion of Lung


Epidemiology


Physiology


Clinical

It is recommended that the severely ischemic lung should be removed, because detorsion of the affected lung can lead to an ischemia-reperfusion injury causing grave sequelae. Detorsion may lead to profound hemodynamic consequences, including hypoxemia, hypotension, severe acidosis, and showering of the brain with emboli from the pulmonary veins.

Torsion should be suspected whenever opacification of a hemithorax appears on chest radiographs after thoracotomies, as it did in this patient.


References